Editor's note: Musk is expected to achieve the first landing of a starship on the surface of the moon in 2024. The first manned Mars flight plan will be launched in 2026. If it goes well, the manned Mars flight will be advanced. In view of the situation that SpaceX and NASA are both grasping, we should start the research and development of the moon rocket as soon as possible.
Universe Impression | Headline Exclusive In-Depth Science Column No. 1533
On December 9, SpaceX’s Starship starship space flight system SN8 experimental aircraft exploded during the test. The test flight reached a height of 12.5 kilometers, which is equivalent to that of an ordinary passenger plane. Cruise altitude. The test flight process is like this. SN8 will fully simulate the maneuvers when landing on Mars and returning to Earth. It will use two pairs of stabilizers and three Raptor engines to control the speed and attitude. After 6 minutes and 42 seconds of lift-off, due to the landing speed Too fast, causing an explosion on the ground.
Picture interpretation: SN8 prototype glides without power, simulating the maneuvering way of landing on Mars.
Picture interpretation: SN8 prototype shuts down the methane engine in the air. The cause of the accident given by the relevant team was that the fuel tank pressure was low during landing, which led to the high landing speed. There was a correlation between the low pressure and the power output. The liquid methane fuel could not be output normally, and the rocket thrust was insufficient. The SN8 problem In this piece of power. At the same time, we should note that the SN8 prototype has also achieved some results. For example, from take-off to return attitude control, they have broken through the milestones of SN5 and SN6. The first two fly at an altitude of less than 150 meters, and they all look very crude. , Like a cylinder, without aerodynamic shape. SN8 is the first prototype that is relatively close to the starship. It is equipped with three Raptor engines, a nose cone and two pairs of flap structures. The SN8 needs flap control when landing, and there is no problem with the flap and action tube control in this test flight.
Picture interpretation: SN8 prototype touches the ground and explodes
Starship starship will be launched into
SpaceX at the earliest in 2024. The starship consists of two parts. The first is a starship, with 6 Raptor engines as power, and one It is a super heavy booster with 30 Raptor engines. This combination can send people and goods to Mars, the moon, and other celestial bodies farther in the solar system, and can be reused. Musk expects to land a starship on the surface of the moon for the first time in 2024 and launch the first manned Mars flight plan in 2026. If it goes well, the manned Mars flight will be advanced.
Picture interpretation: The final form of the Starship space flight system
The Starship space flight system of the United States suffered a power device failure when it finally landed, resulting in an explosion on the ground. The time was just in time for the Chang'e 5 return capsule to return to Earth. Occasion. The United States’ current exploration in the direction of the moon is already lagging behind, but the Starship space flight system poses a great threat to us. If, according to Musk, a manned landing on Mars can be formed in 2026, then they can do so. Send astronauts to the moon in batches, which can transport 100 people at a time. If converted into cargo, it can deliver 150 tons of cargo at a time, and it can be used repeatedly.
I have a plan for the moon landing rocket
. In response to the situation where SpaceX and NASA are both holding hands, we should start the research and development of the moon landing rocket as soon as possible, even the 921 rocket. At most, launch 2 to 3 times to send the payload to the moon The tracks are docked. With the rocket, everything is easy to say. In the Chang'e-5 mission, we have mastered the technology of orbit separation, docking, lunar surface ascent, and second cosmic speed return. We only need one unmanned verification to manned the moon. . According to the timing of NASA and SpaceX, there is still not much time left for us.
