SpaceX has begun construction of Starship spacecraft prototype

SpaceX has begun construction of the first prototype for the Starship spacecraft. CEO Elon Musk has confirmed this and showed a short video clip where the heat shield to be used is tested.

Elon Musk says on Twitter that the second rocket stage, the spacecraft portion of the Starship rocket that will go into space, is already under construction. This is the new, large, completely reusable rocket that has to be used, among other things, to fly to Mars and which was previously known as the Big Falcon Rocket.

SpaceX is currently also working on the stainless steel test the Starship’s heat shields. Formed by hexagon-shaped tiles, these heat shields have a limited heat test passed successfully. In addition, temperatures of 1375 degrees Celsius reached, which Musk says is the temperature the spacecraft will face when reentering the atmosphere.

This heat shield uses a technology called transpirational cooling. In addition, small holes are made in the heat shield through which water or methane passes to cool the outside. This should limit any damage to the heat shield and ensure that the spacecraft is quickly reusable again. Transpirational cooling is added as soon as erosion occurs at the heat shield, so let Musk know.

Musk also said that SpaceX will “hopefully” begin testing the small test version of Starship, called Starhopper, this week. It will be equipped with a Raptor, the methane rocket engine with which the large Starship will eventually be equipped. The Hopper will operate during tests come off the platform a bit at most and not really take off yet. In January this small test version fell over due to a strong wind.