# Starship tanker

> tanker variant of Starship spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q126421290](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126421290)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/starship-tanker

## Summary
The Starship tanker is a specialized variant of the Starship spacecraft, developed by SpaceX. It functions as a tanker vehicle, designed to facilitate in-orbit refueling for other Starship spacecraft. This spacecraft model is a key component of the Artemis program.

## Key Facts
*   **Developer:** SpaceX
*   **Instance of:** spacecraft model
*   **Subclass of:** Starship, tanker vehicle
*   **Part of:** Artemis program
*   **Parent entity:** Starship, a reusable spacecraft by SpaceX
*   **Parent entity:** Starship, a SpaceX super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle
*   **Image:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Starship_stack_tanker.jpg
*   **Parent Starship inception:** Before 2005

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Starship tanker?
A: The Starship tanker is a specific variant of the Starship spacecraft, developed by SpaceX. It is designed to operate as a tanker vehicle, primarily for in-orbit refueling operations.

### Q: Who developed the Starship tanker?
A: The Starship tanker was developed by SpaceX. It is part of their broader Starship program, which includes various specialized spacecraft models.

### Q: What program is the Starship tanker associated with?
A: The Starship tanker is part of the Artemis program. Its role as a tanker vehicle is crucial for missions requiring in-orbit refueling to achieve the program's objectives.

### Q: Is the Starship tanker a new type of spacecraft?
A: The Starship tanker is an instance of a spacecraft model and a subclass of the Starship vehicle. It is a specialized variant designed for a specific function within the Starship architecture rather than an entirely new class of spacecraft.

## Why It Matters
The Starship tanker is significant as a specialized variant of the Starship spacecraft, playing a crucial role as a tanker vehicle. Its inclusion as a component of the Artemis program highlights its importance in future space exploration efforts. As a tanker, it is designed to facilitate in-orbit refueling, which is a critical capability for extending the range and duration of missions undertaken by its parent Starship spacecraft. Developed by SpaceX, this spacecraft model is integral to the operational architecture that supports ambitious endeavors like those planned within the Artemis program, where sustained presence and complex operations beyond Earth orbit are required. Its existence underscores the development of reusable and adaptable space infrastructure necessary for advancing human spaceflight and exploration.

## Notable For
*   Being a specialized tanker variant of the Starship spacecraft.
*   Its role as a component of the Artemis program.
*   Its classification as both a spacecraft model and a tanker vehicle.
*   Being developed by SpaceX as part of their Starship program.

## Body

### Overview
The Starship tanker is a specific variant of the Starship spacecraft. It is categorized as a spacecraft model and functions as a tanker vehicle. This entity is developed by SpaceX.

### Parent Entity: Starship
The Starship tanker is a subclass of the broader Starship entity. The Starship itself is described as:
*   A reusable spacecraft by SpaceX.
*   A SpaceX super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle.
The inception of the Starship class was noted to be before 2005.

### Role and Program Association
The Starship tanker is an integral part of the Artemis program. Its primary function as a tanker vehicle implies its role in providing in-orbit refueling capabilities, which are essential for extended space missions.

### Visual Representation
An image depicting the Starship stack tanker is available, illustrating its design and configuration. This image can be accessed at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Starship_stack_tanker.jpg.