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home | newest check | boards | help index | log | ps | userlogin | send sysop | slog | status forward | bcm news | users | version | remove cookieWG3K > ANS 05.05.24 12:03l 38 Lines 3410 Bytes #18 (0) @ AMSAT BID : $ANS126.3 Subj: NASA Reveals SpaceX's Innovative Plan for Starship Refueling Path: JH4XSY<IW0QNL<IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<DK0WUE<N2NOV<KA1VSC<WG3K Sent: 240505/0257Z 3922@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24 NASA recently outlined SpaceX's plans for refueling Starships in low-Earth orbit, a critical step toward enabling ambitious lun ar missions. Scheduled for next year, this demonstration involves linking two Starships in orbit. Under contract with NASA's Ar temis program, SpaceX aims to supply human-rated Starships for lunar landings, although the targeted 2026 launch for Artemis II I highlights the project's ambitious nature. Last year, NASA awarded a contract to Blue Origin, providing alternative options f or lunar missions. Both companies designed their landers with future refueling capabilities, allowing for multiple missions and potential resource utilization on the Moon or Mars. Amit Kshatriya, leading NASA's "Moon to Mars" program, outlined SpaceX's strategy for in-space refueling during a recent meetin g. Despite challenges, progress is evident as SpaceX prepares for upcoming Starship test flights, aiming to tackle crucial tech nical hurdles. Before lunar missions become a reality, mastering in-space refueling is essential. SpaceX plans to demonstrate l arge-scale propellant transfer between two Starships in orbit next year. This milestone follows a successful cryogenic propella nt transfer test during a previous Starship flight, funded by NASA. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SpaceX-Starships-...]https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/upl oads/2024/05/SpaceX-Starships-Docked-in-Orbit.jpg Artist's Illustration of Two SpaceX Starships Docked in Orbit. [Credit: SpaceX] With each test flight, SpaceX aims to enhance capabilities necessary for lunar landings. These include precise booster landings , in-orbit engine restarts, and controlled reentries-a prerequisite for deep space exploration. SpaceX's long-term goal of freq uent Starship launches hinges on rapid reusability, aligning with Elon Musk's vision. Despite the challenges, progress is tangi ble, with plans underway to establish additional launch infrastructure in Texas and Florida. The upcoming refueling demonstration involves autonomously linking two Starships in orbit, a task not without complexities. Yet , leveraging experience from Dragon capsule missions, SpaceX aims to navigate these challenges. The propellant transfer process relies on a pressure differential mechanism, simplifying the flow between donor and recipient tanks. Fine-tuning this procedur e is crucial to avoid propellant loss during transfers. [https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SpaceX-Cryogenic-...]https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/upl oads/2024/05/SpaceX-Cryogenic-Transfer-Demonstration.jpg Plans for SpaceX's Ship-to-Ship Cryogenic Transfer Demonstration. [Credit: NASA/Amit Kshatriya] Success in these demonstrations will determine the number of refueling tankers required for lunar missions. While predictions e xist, practical tests will validate these estimates, ensuring mission success. As SpaceX pushes boundaries, industry experts em phasize the importance of collaboration and innovation. With a resilient team and the right attitude, SpaceX aims to overcome c hallenges and pioneer the next era of space exploration. While ambitious, SpaceX's endeavors signify a paradigm shift in space exploration, driven by a collective vision of advancing humanity's reach beyond Earth's orbit. [ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, for the above information
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