Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers (한국추진공학회지)

The Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers (한국추진공학회)
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Characteristics of Starship System Development

Starship 시스템 개발 특징

  • Yoo, Jaehan (Rocket Engine Team, Korea Aerospace Research Institute)
  • Received : 2021.08.05
  • Accepted : 2021.10.15
  • Published : 2021.10.31
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Abstract

SpaceX has lowered rocket launch cost innovatively and put first stage reuse to the practical use with Falcon 9. Now the company is developing Starship system that is fully reusable with the heaviest payload in the world. So the system can lower the cost much more and fulfull more diverse mission. For the system the company have developed Raptor engine which is a full-flow staged combustion cycle one with methane fuel. And for the full reusability the company is manufacturing and testing the system prototypes with the barely used technologies such as stainless steel tank, belly flop and retropropulsion during descent. In this study the specification, missions and design features of the system are investigated. Also the development processes of Raptor engine and initial 13 Starship prototypes, which have been manufactured very rapidly, are presented.

SpaceX사는 Falcon 9으로 발사체 비용을 혁신적으로 낮추었으며 로켓의 1단 재사용을 실용화하였다. 현재는 완전 재사용이 가능하고 탑재량이 가장 큰 Starship 시스템을 개발 중이며 이로 인해 더욱 저렴한 비용의 발사와 임무의 다양화가 가능하다. 이를 위해 최초로 메탄 연료를 사용하는 전유동 다단 연소 싸이클을 사용하는 Raptor 엔진을 완성하였다. 그리고 완전 재사용을 위해 스테인리스강 탱크, 하강 중 배면낙하 및 역추진과 같은 거의 사용되지 않는 기술들을 함께 적용하여 다수의 시제기를 제작 및 시험하고 있다. 여기서는 Starship 시스템의 제원, 임무, 설계 특징에 대해 알아보았다. 또한 Raptor 엔진과 매우 빠르게 제작된 초기 13 기의 Starship 시제기 개발 과정에 대해서도 알아보았다.

Keywords

References

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