Starship is a fully reusable, super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. It is designed to be the most powerful rocket ever built and the first to achieve full and rapid reusability.
Development History
SpaceX began developing Starship around 2012, initially calling it the Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT). The project evolved through several design iterations:
- 2016-2017: Initial designs revealed with carbon fiber construction
- 2018: Redesigned with stainless steel, renamed to Starship
- 2019-2021: Multiple prototype tests in Boca Chica, Texas
- 2023: First orbital flight test attempt
- 2024-2025: Continued test flights and development
Technical Innovation
Starship introduces several revolutionary technologies:
- Full reusability of both stages
- Rapid refueling in orbit for deep space missions
- Methane/oxygen propulsion for Mars ISRU compatibility
- Belly-flop landing maneuver for atmospheric entry
Intended Applications
- Crewed missions to the Moon (NASA Artemis program)
- Mars colonization missions
- Point-to-point Earth transport
- Satellite deployment
- Space station construction
Starship represents SpaceX's vision for making life multiplanetary, with the capability to transport up to 100 tons to Mars and support establishing a permanent human presence on the red planet.