Illustration of SpaceX Starship human lander design that will carry the very first NASA astronauts to the surface area of the Moon under the Artemis program. Credit: SpaceX
NASA and SpaceX are working together on the Starship Human Landing System for lunar objectives. After successful engine tests under severe conditions, the next action is an integrated flight test of Starship and Super Heavy.
NASA is working with SpaceX to develop its Starship human landing system (HLS) for use throughout the Artemis III and Artemis IV objectives to land American astronauts near the South Pole of the Moon. The Starship HLS will be powered by 2 versions of the businesss Raptor engines– one enhanced to operate in atmospheric pressure at sea-level and one optimized to operate in area, or in a vacuum, where there is no environment.
Test of a Raptor Vacuum engine cooled to imitate conditions after a long coast duration in area. Credit: SpaceX
Last month, SpaceX showed a vacuum-optimized Raptors performance through a test that effectively confirmed the engine can be begun in the severe cold conditions arising from extended time in space. One difficulty that differentiates Artemis objectives from those in low Earth orbit is that the landers may sit in area without shooting for a prolonged duration of time, triggering the temperature of the hardware to drop to a level listed below what they would experience on a much shorter low Earth orbit objective.
Test of a Raptor Vacuum engine chilled to mimic conditions after a long coast period in space pic.twitter.com/o3kGEf9UtI
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 14, 2023
Evaluating critical technologies and hardware under simulated and actual flight conditions is crucial for the development of Artemis Moon landers. SpaceXs Raptor engines will next be put to the test during the companys second integrated flight test of Starship and Super Heavy.
SpaceXs Raptor engines will next be put to the test throughout the businesss second integrated flight test of Starship and Super Heavy.
The 281-second throttle test demonstrated the engines ability to satisfy the needs of a descent burn to the lunar surface. Credit: SpaceX
Among the first screening turning points SpaceX finished under its Artemis III agreement in November 2021 was also an engine test, demonstrating Raptors capability to carry out a critical phase of landing on the Moon. In a 281-second-long test firing, Raptor demonstrated the powered descent portion of the objective, when the Starship HLS leaves its orbit over the lunar surface area and begins its descent to the Moons surface to land. The test had 2 goals: to show Raptors capability to alter the level of engine power in time, called its throttle profile, and for the engine to burn the full length of time of the powered descent phase. The effective test provided NASA with early self-confidence in the businesss engine development.
One of the very first testing turning points SpaceX finished under its Artemis III agreement in November 2021 was likewise an engine test, demonstrating Raptors capability to perform a vital stage of landing on the Moon. The test had 2 objectives: to reveal Raptors ability to alter the level of engine power over time, known as its throttle profile, and for the engine to burn the complete length of time of the powered descent stage. The successful test offered NASA with early self-confidence in the businesss engine development.
