When it comes to rockets, size matters—and SpaceX’s Starship stands out as a behemoth in the realm of space exploration. Designed to revolutionize space travel, Starship is the largest and most ambitious rocket ever built, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of payload capacity, mission flexibility, and reusability. But just how big is Starship, and how does it compare to SpaceX’s other rockets?
Starship Stages' Height
At full stack, Starship consists of two stages: the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft. Together, the rocket stands an astonishing 120 meters (394 feet) tall, making it the tallest rocket in history.
To put that into perspective, it’s nearly as tall as a 40-story building. The diameter of the rocket is equally impressive, measuring 9 meters (30 feet) across, which provides ample space for cargo and crew compartments.
Breaking it down further, the Starship spacecraft—the second stage—measures 50 meters (164 feet) in height and can carry up to 100 people on long-duration missions. The Super Heavy booster, which is responsible for propelling Starship out of Earth’s atmosphere, is 70 meters (230 feet) tall and powered by 33 Raptor engines, each capable of producing 230 metric tons of thrust. Combined, the engines generate an incredible 7,590 metric tons of thrust, making Starship the most powerful rocket ever built.
Starship's Payload Capacity
The payload capacity is equally jaw-dropping. Starship is designed to carry 100 to 150 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO), and future versions are expected to handle even heavier loads for interplanetary missions.
This far surpasses SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which has a payload capacity of around 22.8 metric tons to LEO, and the Falcon Heavy, capable of lifting 63.8 metric tons. The Starship’s immense capacity makes it ideal for ambitious missions, such as transporting large satellite constellations, building a lunar base, or even supporting human colonization on Mars.
How Its Size Affects Its Reusability
Despite its massive size, Starship is designed for full reusability. Both the spacecraft and the booster are intended to return to Earth for refurbishment and relaunch, drastically reducing the cost per mission. This approach mirrors SpaceX’s philosophy of sustainability and affordability, as demonstrated by the success of the Falcon 9’s reusable first stage.
When compared to other famous rockets, Starship dwarfs them all. The Saturn V, which carried astronauts to the Moon during the Apollo program, was 111 meters (363 feet) tall and could lift 140 metric tons to LEO—smaller and slightly less capable than Starship. Even NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS), designed for lunar and deep-space missions, is shorter at 98 meters (322 feet) and less powerful in terms of payload capacity.
Conclusion
Starship’s size and capabilities underscore its role as a game-changer in space exploration. It’s not just a rocket; it’s a platform for realizing humanity’s boldest dreams, from sending humans to Mars to making space travel as routine as air travel. As SpaceX continues testing and refining this giant, Starship is poised to redefine the limits of what we can achieve in space.
