Timeline for StarShip delivering a payload of at least 25 tons to orbit and returning from orbit intact, as in, it can be repaired in one to two months and then reflown again?
6 to 8 years, assuming Trump and Elon win the election and Elon just gets to throw infinite taxpayer money at SpaceX via NASA. And it won’t be called StarShip, Elon will change its name a few times.
If Trump and Elon lose, probably never, Elon will end up in jail and/or have to greatly downsize SpaceX after NASA stops funding StarShip.
EDIT: You mention orbital fuel transfers.
AFAIK, that hasn’t been even designed, at all.
All we’ve seen are 3D renders.
Oh sure lets mate the fuel booms together at the engines, and then… slosh… the fuel… into the other craft?
Wait, that’s a really bad idea? For an astounding number of reasons?
Oh uh, just connect them side to side, sure.
Oh… ok…
Have any actual details of this been explained?
Would that require crew in EVA suits? A fully automatic docking system and fuel connection system?
Timeline for StarShip delivering a payload of at least 25 tons to orbit and returning from orbit intact, as in, it can be repaired in one to two months and then reflown again?
6 to 8 years, assuming Trump and Elon win the election and Elon just gets to throw infinite taxpayer money at SpaceX via NASA. And it won’t be called StarShip, Elon will change its name a few times.
If Trump and Elon lose, probably never, Elon will end up in jail and/or have to greatly downsize SpaceX after NASA stops funding StarShip.
EDIT: You mention orbital fuel transfers.
AFAIK, that hasn’t been even designed, at all.
All we’ve seen are 3D renders.
Oh sure lets mate the fuel booms together at the engines, and then… slosh… the fuel… into the other craft?
Wait, that’s a really bad idea? For an astounding number of reasons?
Oh uh, just connect them side to side, sure.
Oh… ok…
Have any actual details of this been explained?
Would that require crew in EVA suits? A fully automatic docking system and fuel connection system?