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
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
-
2018 · Q95 · General Studies · 2 marks
With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the satellite useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location in Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? -
2022 · Q34 · General Studies · 2 marks
Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media?