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Starship should be able to reach orbit by itself, just without any cargo. See e.g. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1076613555091234816 https://twitter.com/e
by bbojan 6y ago
Starship should be able to reach orbit by itself, just without any cargo. See e.g. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1076613555091234816 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1076613555091234816.
So it technically is a (not very useful) SSTO. But is enough for it to be tested in orbit before Super Heavy is ready.
- jandrese 6y agoIt could be useful as a rescue craft. If someone has a Columbia like damage on liftoff and can't safely reenter you could send up an empty Starship to bring them back. Although come to think of it I don't know if fuel issues would prevent it from being able to land with a full complement of rescued astronauts.
- yellowapple 6y agoHopefully you'd be able to "siphon" (not literally, obviously, but figuratively) the fuel from the stranded ship, assuming the two ships do indeed use compatible fuel.