SpaceX Just Revealed Insanely Difficult Starship Orbital Refueling!

If we’ve learned anything about SpaceX in 2024, it’s that they can achieve just about anything they set their sights on. It’s only been a week since the jaw-dropping Starship Flight 5 launch that made headlines worldwide. This launch was monumental, especially with the booster being caught mid-air during its return—a feat few thought possible. But true to their style, SpaceX is already moving on to something even bigger. They’ve just revealed an even more challenging plan for the next Starship flight and We’re going to break down all the details in today’s video, so before we delve any deeper, make sure to subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Starship and SpaceX’s groundbreaking achievements.
During flight 5, As soon as the Super Heavy booster ignited, the 33 Raptor engines powered the vehicle for several minutes, pushing it toward the space. The booster separated from the upper stage, Ship 27, as planned, after approximately 2.5 minutes of powered flight. Once separation occurred, Booster 12 began its descent back to Earth while Ship 27 continued its trajectory.
Booster 12’s descent was closely controlled to ensure it would be in an optimal position for a mid-air catch attempt by the Mechazilla chopstick arms stationed at the Starbase launch pad. During descent, Booster 12 conducted a series of carefully timed burns to slow down and orient itself. This included a “boost-back” burn to adjust its trajectory, ensuring it would reenter the atmosphere at the correct angle. Following reentry, additional burns helped slow the booster and guide it towards the landing site. These complex maneuvers are designed to control the extreme speed and heat generated during reentry, preventing any damage to the booster’s heat-resistant components.
The final phase involved the booster descending with the assistance of the grid fins to maintain stability. SpaceX’s team closely monitored the descent and prepared the chopstick arms to attempt a mid-air catch. The chopsticks successfully captured the booster, a monumental feat for SpaceX, which had aimed to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of reusability through mid-air recovery instead of landing legs. This moment highlighted SpaceX’s innovative engineering approach and validated the effectiveness of Mechazilla’s catch mechanism, a critical part of their rapid reuse goals.
Once the booster was caught, it was carefully lowered and secured on the launch mount, where it underwent initial inspections to confirm no damage occurred during the descent. After ensuring the booster was in good condition, SpaceX moved Booster 12 off the launch pad, clearing the way for the next phase of operations.

Keywords:-
NASA and SpaceX, spaceX starship lunar lander, FAA approved starship, FAA and spacex starship, second starship launch, Starship booster hot staging, Starship water deluge system, water deluge system taste, spacex water deluge system, Spacex Starship launch,Spacex super heavy launch,spacex super heavyrocket,Super Heavy booster,Super Heavy booster engine fire,spacex fire test,super heavy engine fire

[sonnyburnett]

Starship will be a multipurpose vehicle for decades. Earth Orbital flights, Moon and Mars Manned and unmanned flights plus future ambitions. I only wish NASA had pursued this after Apollo. Imagine where we’d be today after 50 years. Thank you Elon for now making it finally happen.

[gentryglass]

5 minutes into the video he finally begins talking about why we all clicked on the video…🤦‍♂️

[mpetersen]

Its pretty much a given in my opinion that we will need on orbit refueling depots. Build a version of Starship with no thermal tiles. Or flaps. Adocking adaptor on the front end. Engines in a recoverable pod. Once launched the fuel tanks dock to a core element. Once you have 8 launches conducted and the tanks get docked spin the assembly up to a low gee acceleration. Say .05 G. Just enough to make pumping fuel easier.

[ghanova]

Why do they not use a substitute approach? Use heavy booster to push a fuel tank version of Star Ship into orbit, detach the crew compartment and the landing fuel tanks of the of the fuel tank space ship (in the same location as the crewed compartment), re attach the crew module to the fully fuelled starship space rated model, landing tanks return the now empty star ship to earth.

Would seem to be far less risky than trying to pump cryogenic fuel under pressure between vessels in space.

Also if you left a Star Ship in orbit it can be used as competent for a space base. Never understood why they didn’t’ do that with the space shuttle tank (apart from cost, tech and political will).

[HarryOttele]

Here is a way to dock the tanker and depot/HUB and transfers, To lock the ships together a light weight device like a Rail Road car coupler. Near the door a Horizontal one and Vertical between the refueling booms and boom receivers The Boom and couplers will retract and extend. The coupler will extend out and lock onto the matching couplers on the other ship and retract half way then the boom will extend to al-line with the receiver then the couplers will pull both ships together and locking the boom for transfer. Hydrogen Bladder inside the Tanker tanks can help in transfer transfer. Then the Hydrogen can be moved and mixed with the landing Methane. A Hydrogen Badder because Methane has Hydrogen.

[fastal]

Why not use solid side boosters to get to leo with full tanker? No need for multiple launches!

[billkunert]

If anybody can pull this off and make it look easy it woll be Elon. I also believe if President Trump is re elected there will be a lot of changes at the FAA and other government agencies.