NASA Just Officially Announced NEW Cargo Starship To The Moon!

NASA Just Officially Announced NEW Cargo Starship To The Moon!
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Sources of image & video:
iamVisual:
João Montenegro
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NASA Just Officially Announced NEW Cargo Starship To The Moon!
Recently, we probably haven't seen much information about SpaceX's Starship HLS lunar lander. However, that doesn’t mean SpaceX and NASA are not focused on developing this vehicle.
More than we think, these two organizations are intensifying design changes and conducting crucial tests to create the newest and most unique lunar lander variant ever.
Let’s find out on today’s episode of Alpha Tech:
NASA Just Officially Announced NEW Cargo Starship To The Moon!
It's understandable why new variants take time to develop, as they are constantly evolving to achieve the most optimal and efficient design for a successful journey to the lunar surface.
Since SpaceX won the Human Landing System contract in 2021, NASA and SpaceX have revealed some renderings of the exterior of the Starship HLS. At that time, the vehicle looked quite similar to a standard Starship, although the aerodynamic control surfaces and heat shields were removed. The crew would access the lunar surface via an elevator, and power would be supplied by a small ring of solar panels around the nose of the lander. Since then, the design of the Starship HLS has changed significantly. NASA and SpaceX have optimized their lander to overcome the unique challenges posed by lunar exploration.
NASA Just Officially Announced NEW Cargo Starship To The Moon!
On November 2, 2023, two drawings, believed to be of the new design for the Starship Human Landing System, were leaked by David Willis on X. The accuracy of these drawings could not be confirmed, but, to be honest, they appear to be identical to previous official descriptions by SpaceX of the vehicle.
To begin with, this design of the Starship Lander is taller than previous versions, comparing the scale between the old and new renderings, but how accurate this is remains to be seen.
As early as December 2021, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hinted that his company might increase the size of Starship's fuel tanks. And now SpaceX is starting with larger Starship version 2 prototypes. So, there is no reason that the Starship HLS could not be taller as well.
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#alphatech
#techalpha
#spacex
#elonmusk
#starship
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[AdvantestInc]

The integration of larger fuel tanks and solar arrays is a game-changer for lunar missions. It's fascinating to see how every detail, down to the paint's reflective properties, plays a crucial role in optimizing mission success.

[rays]

SpaceX has revealed the basic specifications for the enlarged Block 3 Starship. The lunar lander version of that new Starship can send a 225t (metric ton) payload to the lunar surface after the main propellant tanks are refilled completely in LEO. That larger Starship flies from LEO to low lunar orbit (LLO, 100 km altitude, circular orbit) and lands on the lunar surface with 165t of methalox remaining in the main tanks.

[JoeyBlogs]

The landing legs would need to be self levelling, otherwise it could tip over on landing.

[bhambrice]

Comment about the solar arrays. If they need more more power, they might consider an oriental fan (folded) arrangement. When stowed vertically, the fan segments fold together like a fan. Another ides would be to attach each panel at the center of the panel where iit attaches to the ship, so it can pivot to better face the sun.

[nicksavage]

EXCITING TECHNOLOGY AND
MECHANICS.
GREAT TO SEE WHEN
IT ALL PERFORMS
AS EXPECTED.
And One Day be a
Trusted System

[fionajack]

It would be interesting to know more about the landing legs. Some of these renderings don’t seem to show a lot of space underneath Starship lander . They’re gonna have to be adaptive in someway, in order to keep the ship level. It’s so tall, you’d think that would be important

[ruschein]

No hyperbole in your title? I'm stunned!

[nwcaymans]

Great program- one of your best yet. Keep it up.

[Future]

Should they be testing these lunar modules by having them occupied on earth to practice is function and maintenance

[garylester]

Glad to see them working on it...
I wonder if they have considered dividing up the tanks, and having the nose section with its own headers, so that the nose can be seperated from the main ship section to act as a lander.

Then you wouldnt need the elevator, and could land the main section later on the Moon, or at some distance, and leave it as the first positive asset for a moon base.

Shame to pay freight to the Moon and return, to carry empty tanks back, that could be repurposed there.
Might even be able to recover the engines with the nose if they were in pods on a base ring...

I'm just not a fan of landing tall ships on unknown surfaces, or of complications like elevators, nor of bringing back more than necessary, that could be designed to repurpose etc.

Another option would be leave the tanks in Lunar orbit to be repurposed into a gateway orbiter.

Why pay to escape Earth's gravity well, go all the way to the Moon and then bring back empty tanks?
Just so you need increased risk of tall ship, and increased risk of elevator...

[kevinbissett]

You can be with amount of time that passed. The rendering is much different. I would like to see the latest rending. More importantly the engineering of it. Everything else are nice pictures.

[hughdietrich]

Viewed this one for second and read the comments. Saving more of my time.

[x-acousticguitarstuff.]

With small SHORT Moon Landers Falling Over because of a Rock or Bump in the Surface...

How is this Tall Monster Rocket going to Stand Up and not fall over from an UNSEEN ROCK???

[algieturas]

Starship is too tall. This would make it extremely unstable on the lunar surface. It looks like even a small incline would cause it to tip over. An example is tipping over of that lunar lander (I forgot it's name). What's wrong with a short, wider lander like Alpaca?

[Rennyteam]

Elon will have to show he can land his ship on the moon. Much more difficult than landing his Falcon 9 here.

[petemccalam]

Starship = exciting....Starliner = excruciating.

[JimmyRussell-cs]

They should make it capable of refining water into fuel on the moon.

[fionajack]

Your opening statement says that we recently probably haven’t seen too much info about SpaceX Starship lunar lander. Your title, however states that new info was JUST officially announced?
And then you go on to refer to a November of last year rendering,  


.

[bluntone]

If we’ve learned anything over the years it’s that Musk is an expert at building animation videos.

[frujf]

What is the best design for a lunar lander? NASA and SpaceX apparently think its a pencil.