SpaceX Starship facts for kids

SpaceX Starship is a launch vehicle being developed by SpaceX, a private Aerospace company, since 2012. It is a super heavy launch vehicle, meaning it is capable of lifting more than 50 tonnes of payload into Low Earth orbit, Starship is a fully reusable spacecraft, which will reduce the cost per launch dramatically.

SpaceX had a test on December 9, 2020 which showed that it could fly to a high altitude, and was mostly a success, however it was not able to land soft enough, resulting in the loss of the SN8 Starship.

Images for kids

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  Artist's concept of the 2018 version of Starship upper stage following stage separation

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  Starhopper before test flight

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  SN5 being moved by a crane onto a stand before test flight

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  Starship SN9 sitting on the launch pad awaiting its test flight

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  Comparison of super heavy-lift launch vehicles. Masses listed are the maximum payload to low Earth orbit in metric tons.