Criticizing The Starship--- A Video

Comment:

Before I start, a PSA---Let's Go Brandon. Even Biden agrees. Now for our regularly unscheduled post.

Methinks this guy comes not to criticize Starship, but to bury it. But being the reluctant dialectician, I come to offer the middle ground. Or let's say some constructive criticism.

As I've written before, I think he needs another vehicle if he wants to colonize Mars to the extent he is aspiring to. Assuming the concept he is developing actually works, he will be able to get 200k lbs of payload to low Earth orbit on a frequent basis. It is incumbent upon Musk to make the most of this accomplishment.

Critic says that using the Starship like a plane won't work. I think he has a good point there. One thing to keep in mind is that the Starship can get anywhere on Earth in 90 minutes or less. That's a capability that could be exploited. However, it doesn't mean that it will be. Only that it can be.

As for the technical aspect of launching and making it reusable with short turnarounds, he is somewhat skeptical. I agree that we need to wait and see on that one. The one really interesting idea is to catch the booster as opposed to landing it on the ground. By catching it, the booster will be in a good position to be serviced immediately. This will cut the time between launches to a minimum. That's providing that it works, and providing that the government doesn't stop it from happening, which is a real possibility.

If he gets by the government hurdles, and if the thing works, his next big problem is making use of his machine.

One caveat here for me personally: I would not want to fly on that thing. It is was too radical. This thing will need beaucoup testing and development before anybody will be allowed to get on it. Just my opinion...

So finding a use for it will be paramount. NASA has awarded him a contract to return to the moon. That's his big opportunity right now. By the way, the guy in the video says that to land on the moon is a problem. I would agree... But there's ideas on how to do that which could work. Or maybe not...

Rather than to build a new spacecraft, why not use what's available now? Here's a proposition. Rather than have a bunch of launches to refuel the Starship, just use the Starship to deliver the equivalent of a SIVB booster to low Earth orbit. During the Apollo Era, the SIVB is what delivered the Lunar Module and Command Module to a lunar trajectory. It's mass is close to what the Starship can get to orbit.

What's available now that is powerful enough and light enough? It could be something that NASA is already building for the SLS. If it could be somehow mated to the Starship and fit inside its cargo bay, then they'd have what you need for a lunar injection on one launch. By the way, Terran Space Academy had some thoughts on a combo Starship booster and SLS type rocket. A rendezvous will be necessary to mate the pieces together, I would think.

Then you need a command module and lunar module. A Falcon heavy could do those honors, with the Dragon being outfitted as both a lunar module and command module. You'd add a kick stage to get from lunar orbit back to Earth. You'd need enough fuel to land on the moon, and to get back. In the Apollo Era, that command module and lunar module massed out about about 100k lbs. If the configuration above could be fitted in, and come under the mass that can be launched by Falcon Heavy, the we're in business. If so, then that's two launches.

NASA wants to launch something too. That'd be three. Maybe they can send the kick stage home and the return capsule. So with three launches from three different rockets, and you'd get the job done. Maybe.

Given that the thing is reusable, you could do it multiple times. For that, you'd need a mission for it. The mission would be to set up the lunar base.

I'd say build your base on the moon for the eventual trip and colonization of Mars. It would be a shame to bury the Starship under a mountain of criticism because too much is being expected of it. So the guy is correct in that expectations for this one ship is going to be lowered just a bit. A trip to Mars is going to take a bit more than the Starship.