# Starship

> reusable spacecraft by SpaceX

**Wikidata**: [Q56650652](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56650652)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/starship-q56650652

## Summary
Starship is a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, designed as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle for missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. It is part of a two-stage system that includes the Super Heavy booster and is built to be fully reusable to reduce launch costs.

## Key Facts
- Starship is a reusable spacecraft by SpaceX, designed as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
- The spacecraft has a height of 52 meters (171 feet) and a diameter of 9 meters (29.5 feet).
- Starship's dry mass is approximately 100 tonnes (220,000 pounds), with a propellant capacity of 1,200 tonnes (2,650,000 pounds).
- It is powered by three Raptor sea-level engines and three Raptor Vacuum engines, providing a maximum thrust of 14,700,000 newtons (1,500 tonnes-force or 3,300,000 pounds-force).
- Starship is constructed primarily from SAE 304 stainless steel and uses a heat shield made of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer.
- The spacecraft is designed to carry up to 100 tonnes of payload to orbit.
- Starship is intended for use in NASA's Artemis program as the Starship Human Landing System for lunar missions.
- The first Starship flight occurred in 2020, with multiple test flights and iterations (SN8, SN9, Ship 20, etc.) conducted since then.
- Starship is manufactured by SpaceX and operated by the same company.
- The spacecraft is named after the concept of a "starship" and is classified as a reusable spacecraft and rocket stage.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Starship used for?
A: Starship is designed for a variety of missions, including launching satellites, transporting cargo and crew to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars, and serving as a lunar lander for NASA's Artemis program.

### Q: How tall is Starship?
A: Starship stands 52 meters (171 feet) tall, making it one of the largest spacecraft ever built.

### Q: What material is Starship made of?
A: Starship is primarily constructed from SAE 304 stainless steel, with a heat shield made of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer.

## Why It Matters
Starship represents a revolutionary step in space exploration due to its fully reusable design, which aims to drastically reduce the cost of accessing space. By enabling the transport of large payloads and crew to destinations like the Moon and Mars, Starship is central to SpaceX's vision of making humanity a multiplanetary species. Its role in NASA's Artemis program underscores its importance in returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence there. The spacecraft's reusability and high payload capacity could transform the economics of space travel, opening up new possibilities for scientific research, commercial ventures, and interplanetary exploration.

## Notable For
- Fully reusable design, a first for orbital-class spacecraft.
- Largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever developed.
- Central to NASA's Artemis program for lunar exploration.
- Constructed from stainless steel, a unique choice for spacecraft.
- Designed for missions to Mars, advancing the goal of interplanetary travel.

## Body
### Development and History
Starship development began in 2005 under the name "Interplanetary Transport System" before evolving into its current form. The project is led by SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, with the goal of creating a fully reusable spacecraft capable of carrying humans and cargo to Mars and beyond. The first prototype, Starhopper, completed low-altitude flights in 2019, followed by a series of increasingly complex test flights of Starship prototypes (SN8, SN9, etc.).

### Design and Specifications
Starship is a two-stage system consisting of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster. The spacecraft itself is 52 meters tall and 9 meters in diameter, with a dry mass of 100 tonnes and a propellant capacity of 1,200 tonnes. It is powered by six Raptor engines—three optimized for sea-level operation and three for vacuum—providing a total thrust of 14,700,000 newtons. The spacecraft is built from SAE 304 stainless steel, chosen for its strength and heat resistance, and features a heat shield made of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer.

### Missions and Applications
Starship is designed for a wide range of missions, including launching satellites, resupplying the International Space Station, and transporting crew and cargo to the Moon and Mars. It is also being developed as the Starship Human Landing System for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The spacecraft's large payload capacity and reusability make it ideal for both government and commercial space missions.

### Testing and Iterations
Since its first flight in 2020, Starship has undergone numerous test flights and iterations. Early prototypes like SN8 and SN9 were lost during test flights, but subsequent versions (Ship 20, Ship 25, etc.) have achieved greater success, including successful water landings. These tests have been crucial for refining the spacecraft's design and proving its capabilities.

### Future Prospects
Starship is central to SpaceX's long-term vision of enabling human settlement on Mars. Its ability to carry large numbers of passengers and cargo, combined with its reusability, could make Mars colonization economically feasible. Additionally, Starship's role in NASA's Artemis program highlights its importance in advancing lunar exploration and establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Starship",
  "description": "Reusable spacecraft by SpaceX, designed as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle for missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.",
  "url": "https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5049258",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Vehicle"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/51431135356/)
2. [Source](https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/)
3. [Source](https://everydayastronaut.com/starbase-tour-and-interview-with-elon-musk/)
4. [Source](http://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship)