Why in news
- SpaceX successfully achieved orbital insertion of its fully integrated Starship super-heavy launch vehicle during its 14th test flight.
Key terms
Super Heavy Booster
The first-stage rocket booster designed to propel the upper spacecraft out of Earth's atmosphere.
Orbital Insertion
The process of placing a spacecraft into a stable orbit around a planet or moon.
Methalox Propellant
A rocket propellant combination using liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidiser.
Reusable Launch Vehicle
A launch system engineered to recover and re-fly rocket stages multiple times to reduce cost.
What is the Starship launch system?
- Fully reusable super-heavy launch vehicle designed to carry heavy payloads, satellites, and human crews to Earth orbit and beyond.
- Consists of two stages: the Super Heavy booster first stage and the Starship upper-stage spacecraft.
- Powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen (Methalox) Raptor rocket engines.
Key technical achievements
- First full orbital trajectory achievement for the integrated 120-meter tall launch system.
- Validation of thermal protection shield re-entry capability and second-stage engine relight mechanics in orbit.
- Progress towards complete end-to-end launch vehicle reusability.
Why it matters
- Drastically reduces cost-per-kilogram for payload delivery to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- Serves as the foundational vehicle for NASA's Artemis lunar landing architecture and deep-space missions.
Prelims facts
- Starship uses Methalox (liquid methane and liquid oxygen) fuel rather than conventional unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine or solid propellants.
Source: The Hindu
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