Updated on 4-21-23; Originally posted on 4-17-13
Elon Musk's new Starship is much more powerful than a Saturn V rocket that sent astronauts to the moon and back. If the Saturn V needed a flame trench and a water drench, then we might see why Musk's rocket needs something more than what it has now. If not those things, then something better than nothing.
Can it be done? Not without a major redesign. All Musk did from the last time this happened was to change out the concrete. If that is all he will do, then he won't be able to launch with the cadence that he envisions. A rebuild of the launch platform will take weeks, if not months. He wants to launch several times a day. In order to achieve anything like that, he will need a launch platform that will hold up much better than this one did.
The original post shows a video of the Saturn V rocket's power, and it shows how all that energy was handled by the launch facility. The video shown is in slow motion. ( very slow motion) Even with the measures taken with Saturn V launches, a bit of work would have been necessary to launch again.
Musk is a long, long way from his goals. This would be true unless this outcome was anticipated, and he already has a new plan. That wouldn't be likely.
The new SLS rocket will rival the Saturn V in its lifting capacity. If the liquid fuel option is chosen, as opposed to solid rocket boosters, the F1 vintage rocket engines ( an updated version) may make a triumphant return.
Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch (HD) Camera E-8 from Spacecraft Films on Vimeo.
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