* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, May 30, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Receives Expected Nasdaq Notice Regarding Delayed Quarterly Report – Business Wire

    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Faces Nasdaq Notice Over Delayed Quarterly Report

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

    Aziz Ansari made Keanu Reeves Indian food so he wouldn’t feel ‘freaked out’ directing him in Good Fortune (exclusive) – Entertainment Weekly

    Aziz Ansari Whips Up Indian Cuisine for Keanu Reeves to Ease Directing Jitters in Good Fortune

    Cassie Ventura welcomes third child – crossroadstoday.com

    Cassie Ventura Joyfully Welcomes Her Third Child!

    Drew Brees opens Surge Entertainment Center in Metairie hot spot for new businesses – NOLA.com

    Drew Brees Unveils Exciting New Surge Entertainment Center in Metairie!

    Will Gio Stay Or Go On May 27 General Hospital? – Yahoo

    Will Gio Make a Shocking Exit on May 27th’s General Hospital

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    4Liberty Announces Collaboration with Itron to Drive Innovation in Utility Technology Adoption and Optimization – FinancialContent

    4Liberty Partners with Itron to Revolutionize Utility Technology and Boost Innovation

    Q1 2025 Quantum Technology Investment: What’s Driving the Surge in Quantum Investment? – The Quantum Insider

    Unleashing the Future: Exploring the Surge in Quantum Technology Investments for Q1 2025

    MIT Team Releases Tempting Report on Electric Aircraft Technology – AVweb

    MIT Team Releases Tempting Report on Electric Aircraft Technology – AVweb

    MSE, DXC Technology expand tech partnership – Sports Business Journal

    MSE, DXC Technology expand tech partnership – Sports Business Journal

    Technology Driving Performance: How Elite MA Plans Leverage Data, Care Coordination, and Advanced Analytics to Thrive Amid CMS’s Rigorous 2025 Standards, Black Book – Newswire.com

    Unlocking Success: How Top MA Plans Harness Data and Analytics to Excel Under CMS’s 2025 Standards

    Arqit acquires Ampliphae’s technology IP, enhancing its global encryption portfolio – GlobeNewswire

    Arqit Boosts Global Encryption Portfolio with Strategic Acquisition of Ampliphae’s Technology IP

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Receives Expected Nasdaq Notice Regarding Delayed Quarterly Report – Business Wire

    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Faces Nasdaq Notice Over Delayed Quarterly Report

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

    Aziz Ansari made Keanu Reeves Indian food so he wouldn’t feel ‘freaked out’ directing him in Good Fortune (exclusive) – Entertainment Weekly

    Aziz Ansari Whips Up Indian Cuisine for Keanu Reeves to Ease Directing Jitters in Good Fortune

    Cassie Ventura welcomes third child – crossroadstoday.com

    Cassie Ventura Joyfully Welcomes Her Third Child!

    Drew Brees opens Surge Entertainment Center in Metairie hot spot for new businesses – NOLA.com

    Drew Brees Unveils Exciting New Surge Entertainment Center in Metairie!

    Will Gio Stay Or Go On May 27 General Hospital? – Yahoo

    Will Gio Make a Shocking Exit on May 27th’s General Hospital

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    4Liberty Announces Collaboration with Itron to Drive Innovation in Utility Technology Adoption and Optimization – FinancialContent

    4Liberty Partners with Itron to Revolutionize Utility Technology and Boost Innovation

    Q1 2025 Quantum Technology Investment: What’s Driving the Surge in Quantum Investment? – The Quantum Insider

    Unleashing the Future: Exploring the Surge in Quantum Technology Investments for Q1 2025

    MIT Team Releases Tempting Report on Electric Aircraft Technology – AVweb

    MIT Team Releases Tempting Report on Electric Aircraft Technology – AVweb

    MSE, DXC Technology expand tech partnership – Sports Business Journal

    MSE, DXC Technology expand tech partnership – Sports Business Journal

    Technology Driving Performance: How Elite MA Plans Leverage Data, Care Coordination, and Advanced Analytics to Thrive Amid CMS’s Rigorous 2025 Standards, Black Book – Newswire.com

    Unlocking Success: How Top MA Plans Harness Data and Analytics to Excel Under CMS’s 2025 Standards

    Arqit acquires Ampliphae’s technology IP, enhancing its global encryption portfolio – GlobeNewswire

    Arqit Boosts Global Encryption Portfolio with Strategic Acquisition of Ampliphae’s Technology IP

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

SpaceX says refueling its Starship in space won’t be scary

January 13, 2024
in Entertainment
SpaceX says refueling its Starship in space won’t be scary
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Starship landing on the moon

SpaceX will be responsible for getting NASA’s astronauts to the lunar surface with a human-landing system version of Starship.
Credit: SpaceX

When SpaceX rolls Starship to the launchpad this year for its third trial, the company will begin testing the spacecraft’s ability to transfer super-chilled rocket fuel in space.

NASA is depending on billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket company to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface for the Artemis III and IV moon missions under a $4.2 billion contract. To do that, SpaceX first has to master how to refuel a Starship in low-Earth orbit, after it has already blasted off the planet. The tricky concept is known as “cryogenic propellant transfer” — something never done before in microgravity.

NASA’s plan to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in a half-century involves its own Orion spacecraft, but also SpaceX’s Starship. In a sort of space relay, Orion would fly the crew to lunar orbit, and Starship would complete the final leg of the journey by meeting up with the astronauts in space and landing them on the surface. The “baton” could be passed at a yet-to-be-built moon-orbiting space station, or directly from one spacecraft to another.

The U.S. space agency has promised Artemis III will put a woman and person of color on the moon for the first time. But given that Starship has attempted spaceflight twice so far, each time ending minutes after liftoff with an explosion, it’s perhaps unsurprising NASA just announced the moon-landing mission will be delayed at least a year to 2026.

“They’re making tremendous progress in Boca Chica with their test flights,” said Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s Moon to Mars deputy associate administrator, referring to SpaceX’s private spaceport in South Texas. “But it’s extremely challenging to some of the propellant transfer and other goals that they have in order to make that Earth departure sequence work for us.”

Why does NASA want a propellant depot in space?

NASA and commercial partners are interested in space fuel stations because they could allow spacecraft to travel longer and farther into the solar system. Future missions could use ice on the moon to make propellant by splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. If engineers can figure out how to store super-cold liquids in space, whether they are launched from Earth or produced somewhere else, it could make a long-term stay on the moon possible and even support distant missions to Mars.

NASA has invested $370 million in over a dozen U.S. companies to develop the technology needed to store and transfer rocket fuel in space. That funding includes $53 million for SpaceX to demonstrate a propellant transfer, from tanker to ship, in orbit.

The U.S. space agency has chosen to use private vendors for moon landers to buy down the technical risks and costs of the Artemis program, which seeks to use the moon as a springboard for eventual missions to Mars. SpaceX was the first selected, and Blue Origin, billionaire Jeff Bezos’ rival space company, was awarded the contract for Artemis V, a crewed mission slated for no earlier than 2029.

NASA planning Artemis III mission profile

In a sort of space relay, Orion would fly the crew to lunar orbit, and Starship would complete the final leg of the journey by meeting up with the astronauts in space and landing them on the surface.
Credit: NASA

SpaceX’s 400-foot-tall rocket and spacecraft, known collectively as Starship, are designed to carry immense cargo and numerous people into deep space. Starship runs on 10 million pounds of liquid methane and oxygen, but the rocket consumes much of that fuel just to escape the firm grasp of Earth’s gravity.

Mashable Light Speed

How would propellant transfer in orbit work?

To make the rest of the quarter-million-mile journey to the moon, Starship would need to top off its tank. The plan is for SpaceX to send up tanker versions of Starship into low-Earth orbit, establishing a fueling depot in space. A passenger version of Starship would dock at a tanker, fill up, and then complete the rest of the moonbound flight.

Blue Origin will also rely on orbital refueling.

“Propellant transfer in orbit sounds complex and scary — it seems like this big, nebulous thing — but when you really break it down into the various pieces, we’ve actually achieved almost all of the complex parts already on our operational programs now,” said Jessica Jensen, SpaceX’s vice president of customer operations and integration.

Astronauts testing Orion spacecraft docking hatch

NASA astronauts test a docking hatch on an Orion spaceship prototype.
Credit: NASA / Radislav Sinyak

Starship’s third orbital test flight

NASA, on the other hand, seems more daunted by the obstacles that lie ahead. Getting the choreography down for a dual launch campaign of Orion and Starship will be a “significant coordination challenge,” Kshatriya said.

SpaceX plans to conduct a preliminary test in orbit this February, attempting to transfer 11 tons, or 10 metric tons, of liquid oxygen between tanks contained within Starship. It’s a first step toward the eventual goal of transferring propellant between two separate ships in space.

But part of what has made orbital refueling seem hazy to outsiders is the mystery surrounding just how many launches will be needed to transport the propellant to a space tanker. Competitor Blue Origin suggested SpaceX’s proposal would require 16 consecutive launches. Musk told a Washington Post reporter on X, then known as Twitter, that figure was “extremely unlikely,” and it would probably fall somewhere between four and eight launches.

During an Artemis teleconference with reporters this week, Jensen estimated “10-ish,” after NASA administrator Bill Nelson pressed her to provide a number.

SpaceX confidence in rapid refueling

Regardless of how many successive launches are necessary for the operation, SpaceX officials feel confident based on their track record. Though rapid refueling may “seem very intimidating,” SpaceX has already proven it can handle several launches within hours of each other for its Falcon 9, the workhorse rocket that regularly lifts satellites to orbit.

The company has even proven it can turn around and launch from the same launchpad within a matter of days.

Orion spaceship flying away from the moon

The Orion spaceship flies away from the moon and back toward Earth during the Artemis I maiden voyage.
Credit: NASA

Furthermore, Jensen assured that SpaceX has experience with many of the steps involved in propellant transfer, such as rendezvous and docking maneuvers. Its Dragon spacecraft has docked more than 30 times at the International Space Station, flying 250 miles above Earth.

“Everything we’ve learned, from the sensors we use, the algorithm we use for the rendezvous, from pulling back — we’re going to leverage all of that in having two Starships dock together,” she said.

Mashable Image

Elisha Sauers is the space and future tech reporter for Mashable, interested in asteroids, astronauts, and astro nuts. In over 15 years of reporting, she’s covered a variety of topics, including health, business, and government, with a penchant for FOIA and other public records requests. She previously worked for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, and The Capital in Annapolis, Maryland, now known as The Capital-Gazette. Her work has earned numerous state awards, including the Virginia Press Association’s top honor, Best in Show,  and national recognition for narrative storytelling. In her first year covering space for Mashable, Sauers grabbed a National Headliner Award for beat reporting. Send space tips and story ideas to [email protected] or text 443-684-2489. Follow her on Twitter at @elishasauers.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Mashable – https://mashable.com/article/spacex-starship-propellant-transfer

Tags: entertainmentrefuelingSpaceX
Previous Post

There’s a bad cough going around. We asked doctors what it is.

Next Post

What is the Rabbit R1 AI Assistant and why is everyone going crazy for it?

Even birds can’t out-fly climate change – Phys.org

Even birds can’t out-fly climate change – Phys.org

May 30, 2025
Opinion | How China’s maritime strategy is swapping force for research diplomacy – South China Morning Post

Opinion | How China’s maritime strategy is swapping force for research diplomacy – South China Morning Post

May 30, 2025
Newly discovered ‘ghost’ lineage linked to ancient mystery population in Tibet, DNA study finds – Live Science

Unveiling the Secrets of Tibet: A Fascinating ‘Ghost’ Lineage Revealed by DNA Study

May 30, 2025
‘Wicked,’ gardening and Amy Sedaris: 7 events this week – Albuquerque Journal

‘Wicked,’ gardening and Amy Sedaris: 7 events this week – Albuquerque Journal

May 30, 2025
Yankees have a busload of momentum heading into World Series rematch against Dodgers – AP News

Yankees have a busload of momentum heading into World Series rematch against Dodgers – AP News

May 30, 2025
Economists blame Trump tariffs, AI explosion for threatening global economy – theregister.com

How Trump’s Tariffs and the AI Boom Are Shaking Up the Global Economy

May 30, 2025
Allied Gaming & Entertainment Receives Expected Nasdaq Notice Regarding Delayed Quarterly Report – Business Wire

Allied Gaming & Entertainment Faces Nasdaq Notice Over Delayed Quarterly Report

May 30, 2025
UMC Health System, Texas Tech HSC to honor endowed chairs, professors – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Celebrating Excellence: UMC Health System and Texas Tech HSC Honor Distinguished Professors and Endowed Chairs

May 30, 2025
Paris on Politics: Israel-Gaza conflict gets personal in Chicago’s City Council – FOX 32 Chicago

Paris on Politics: Israel-Gaza conflict gets personal in Chicago’s City Council – FOX 32 Chicago

May 30, 2025
Anduril and Meta Team Up to Transform XR for the American Military – Anduril

Revolutionizing Military Training: Anduril and Meta Join Forces to Enhance XR Technology

May 30, 2025

Categories

Archives

May 2025
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Apr    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (651)
  • Economy (664)
  • Entertainment (21,571)
  • General (15,248)
  • Health (9,706)
  • Lifestyle (666)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (666)
  • Politics (672)
  • Science (15,886)
  • Sports (21,170)
  • Technology (15,651)
  • World (652)

Recent News

Even birds can’t out-fly climate change – Phys.org

Even birds can’t out-fly climate change – Phys.org

May 30, 2025
Opinion | How China’s maritime strategy is swapping force for research diplomacy – South China Morning Post

Opinion | How China’s maritime strategy is swapping force for research diplomacy – South China Morning Post

May 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version