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There is a lot more to Starship than just full reusability, and "full reusability" encompasses a lot of variables too. How quick is turnaround? What sort of ref
by xoa 6y ago
There is a lot more to Starship than just full reusability, and "full reusability" encompasses a lot of variables too. How quick is turnaround? What sort of refurb is required? How many times is it reusable? For SS/SH construction is also cheap, the raptor is a really efficient engine, they will have high cadence given a lot of room for mass manufacturing efficiency gains, they're intended to be durable, and even the fuel is really cheap. Methalox is really economical to work with, and fuel definitely matters for a fully reusable design aimed at lowering costs as much as possible. RP-1 isn't cheap, and also has coking issues unlike methane.
Of course with Neutron not expected to launch, even under Rocket Lab's target, before 2024 they may have answers for a lot of this. I see nothing about fuel for example, maybe they've been working on their own great methalox design. But either way, F9 isn't going to be the comparison by the time they really get going.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- fiftyfifty 6y agoI’ve got to think that Rocket Lab’s announcement came earlier than planned because of this announcement by Relativity Space a few days ago: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/25/relativitys-reusable-terran-rocket-competitor-to-spacexs-falcon-9.html https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/25/relativitys-reusable-terran-... Relativity is claiming to be working on a fully reusable, Methalox burning, competitor to the Falcon 9. Of course Relativity has yet to put something into space so Rocket Lab seems better positioned but these companies are all competing for the same funding and launch contracts so they can’t sit back and let another company steal the lime light for long. Really exciting times in the space industry, the US could have four different companies making reusable rockets in the next 5-10 years.
- NortySpock 6y agoThanks for posting this. I was unaware they had shifted their strategy towards reusability.
- fiftyfifty 6y agoI think both Rocket Lab and Relativity Space realize that even with 3d printing they can't compete on price without reusability. If SpaceX is even close to hitting their costs per launch with Starship/Superheavy they can undercut everyone, even to launch small satellites. SpaceX is shooting for $2 million per launch with Starship, that's cheaper than Electron today and Relativity Space's Terran 1 is planned to cost. Heck for small sats SpaceX could probably put them into orbit with just Starship and a kicker stage and not even have to fire up Superheavy.