Musk announces a great breakthrough. Starship is to change the history of the flight

Elon Musk once again announces a breakthrough in space flights. After the success of the tenth test flight, the Starship rocket is in the new version to achieve the ability to carry up to 100 tons of cargo to orbit. According to SpaceX plans, this is expected to take place in 2026.

Successful return

The last attempt brought the first successful return of the vehicle to the atmosphere and the opening of the hold. Starship dropped the Starlink satellite mock -ups, proving that it could be used for commercial and scientific space missions in the future.

The new version of the rocket – Starship V3 – is a thorough reconstruction of the entire system. The vehicle is to be larger, lighter and more roomy, and its most important element will be the new generation Raptor engines. They are to ensure a greater string while less fuel consumption, which is to translate into better efficiency and strength of the system.

Musk admits that the beginnings may not be easy and the first V3 starts may be associated with problems. The V2 version is expected to fly this year, and subsequent tests will belong to the new system of the system. SpaceX also plans to tests the famous arms of Mechazilla, which are to catch the rocket elements returning to the ground. Attempts at this solution are provided in test flights marked with numbers from 13 to 15.

During the last flight, special attention was paid to the thermal coating. Engineers deliberately damaged its fragment to check the strength when entering the atmosphere. The result was the overpayment of the installation and the characteristic orange scar on the hull, but the test was considered a valuable lesson. It is the thermal cover that is currently one of the biggest challenges for the full re -use of the rocket.

Large ambitions

Musk emphasizes that the perfect material still failed. It must be light, resistant to temperatures reaching 1500 ° C, resistant to overloads and at the same time not affecting heat to the interior of the vehicle.

Although the ambitions are huge, SpaceX has repeatedly shifted the dates. Starship was about to fly to Mars, and is currently testing orbital flights and re -entering the atmosphere. The key will be not only the elevation of the load, but also a series of flawless missions confirming the efficiency of the entire system. This will determine whether 2026 will actually become a breakthrough in the history of space flights, or another point on the list of ambitious but delayed Musk plans.