NASA and its industry partner, SpaceX, are making significant strides toward the Artemis III mission, the first crewed lunar landing since the Apollo era. Recently, SpaceX tested a scale model of the Super Heavy rocket, a crucial component of the Starship human landing system, at NASA's Ames Research Center in California.
A 1.2% scale model of the Super Heavy rocket that will launch the Starship human landing system to the Moon for future crewed Artemis missions was recently tested at NASA's Ames Research Center's transonic wind tunnel, providing valuable information on vehicle stability when re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Image Credit : NASA
Wind Tunnel Testing
The test involved subjecting the 1.2% scale model to high-speed air streams in the transonic Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel, simulating the air resistance and flow the booster experiences during flight. The wind tunnel test measured the Super Heavy model's stability, aerodynamic performance, and other factors at wind speeds ranging from Mach 0.7 to Mach 1.4. This testing is critical to ensure the Super Heavy rocket can withstand the intense forces experienced during launch and ascent. Engineers used the data collected during the two-week test to update flight software for the upcoming Super Heavy and Starship flight and refine the exterior design of future versions of the booster. This iterative process ensures that the Starship system meets NASA's stringent safety and performance requirements.
Return to Launch Site and Reuse
After launching the Starship human landing system to the Moon, the Super Heavy rocket will return to the launch site for catch and reuse, a critical aspect of the Artemis mission. This innovative approach enables significant cost savings and increases the sustainability of deep space exploration.
The Starship system consists of two main components: the Super Heavy rocket (booster) and the Starship spacecraft. The Super Heavy rocket is powered by 33 Raptor engines, generating a combined 17 million pounds of thrust. The Starship spacecraft is designed to carry crew and cargo to the Moon and beyond, with a capacity for up to 100 passengers.
The Artemis mission involves launching astronauts in NASA's Orion spacecraft aboard the SLS rocket from Kennedy Space Center. Once in lunar orbit, Orion will dock with the Starship HLS or Gateway, allowing astronauts to transfer to the Starship HLS for the lunar surface mission. After completing surface activities, Starship will return the astronauts to Orion or Gateway for the return trip to Earth.
Deep Space Exploration
The Artemis program marks a significant step toward deep space exploration, with NASA's SLS, Orion spacecraft, human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, Gateway lunar space station, and future rovers forming the foundation for future human missions to the Red Planet. The Starship system's reusable design and capability to carry crew and cargo make it an essential component of NASA's long-term exploration plans.
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