Wednesday, August 26, 2020

SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro

SpaceX is developing its Starship Super Heavy two-stage super heavy-lift launch vehicle for interplanetary flights. But, if you would need a flight only between the surface of Mars, Moon or other similar planetary body and its orbit, you could do it by less powerful spacecraft - an orbital shuttle.

Here is a concept of such spacecraft, called SpaceX Starflight, by Spanish transportation designer Rodrigo Magro. The orbital shuttle would have a lifting-body shape with thermal shield on the windward side, two forward winglets as Starship, four lower fins with landing legs and solar panels, large panoramic window and hypergolic auxiliary engines for landing on the Moon and other smaller planetary bodies.

SpaceX orbital shuttle on Mars by Rodrigo Magro

SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro

SpaceX orbital shuttle above Mars by Rodrigo Magro
Interactive 3D model of the orbital shuttle:
SpaceX orbital shuttle launch configurations:
SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro - launch configurations

SpaceX orbital shuttle launching from Mars by Rodrigo Magro
Hypergolic auxiliary engines for landing on the Moon and other smaller planetary bodies:
SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro - hypergolic auxiliary engines

SpaceX orbital shuttle landing sequence:
SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro - landing sequence

SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro - thermal shield

SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro - thrusters

SpaceX orbital shuttle concept by Rodrigo Magro - winglets

2 comments:

  1. Oh... that some sweet design. Imagine such "cheap" model being available for not only multiple nations but private companies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is really neat looking but I think that the Elon/SpaceX approach will keep it simpler. I would expect this concept to be just an extension of the Lunar Lander version of Starship that is in the works.

    ReplyDelete