A NASA expert believes that the SpaceX project, run by Elon Musk, will have a much greater challenge than any other for which the US space agency has passed. In an interview with Business Insider, NASA space exploration and technology leader Walt Engelund said the Starship project, in which SpaceX plans to fly a manned spacecraft to Mars, is on "scales of magnitude" far above any project previous.
One of the main problems, according to Engelund, would be the cooling system of Starship. SpaceX's proposal is to use the ship's own fuel, pumping through small pores, to keep the temperature low. The system is being compared to the blood in our body, where there is blood pumping in small vessels. The idea of doing the same with tiny starship fuel can work well to dissipate heat and hold the temperature.
Musk explained the system late last month. Called "transpiration cooling", the mechanism has a chamber, coated with two layers of stainless steel, into which "fuel or water" can go. Such a chamber would feed the ship to cool it through these small pores, creating a tangle of "arteries" similar to that of the human body.
Musk's explanation makes sense. This is because the company can optimize the space and weight of its system taking advantage of the same element for two proposals. However, Engelund's main concern is that the proposal leaves no room for error.
"I've seen cases where there is a clogged channel and that would immediately lead to a fire going," he said in the interview. "The model would disappear into a hypersonic wind tunnel. It would almost vaporize, there is a lot of energy and heat there, "he adds.
Despite concerns, Engelund acknowledges that SpaceX has already done "more than is expected of a private company" and is putting a lot of effort and creativity to solve the problem. Still, he emphasized that NASA works in partnership with the company of Musk and is open also to always collaborate.
In January of this year, SpaceX had a small accident due to the storm that took off the top of the Starship prototype. Winds of 80km / h broke some blocks that lashed and the fairing was overturned. The proposal of the Super Heavy-Starship, so called the ensemble of the ship and rocket, is to make private journeys to Moon, Mars or places in Earth orbit. With the vehicle having problems sustaining itself due to a storm on Earth, the company may have difficulties in ensuring the safety of the whole on a space trip.
NASA Chief: SpaceX's mission to Mars is the biggest challenge so far
February 18, 2019
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