One of the reasons why the space industry is developing at a quicker pace than ever before is the active input from private companies and visionary entrepreneurs pushing the technology boundaries ever further. SpaceX is one of the first names that comes to mind whenever one talks about space, and for a good reason. Its rockets are top-of-the-line and strive to become even better. Falcon 9 is already the most flown launcher that has already deployed unprecedented amounts of payload into orbit, whereas Starship promises to become the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — at least, for the time being.
But what is the difference between Starship and Falcon 9? First and foremost, these launchers are built for different destinations and purposes. Falcon 9 is a champion of cargo delivery to orbit and the ISS and will keep doing this job further. Starship, on the other hand, is built for deep space missions, starting with Mars colonisation, and is made to accommodate both crews and cargo. This explains rocket differences in size, cargo capacity, and launch cost. Read on for a more detailed Starship vs Falcon 9 comparison to learn more about these rocket’s unique features.
Starship vs Falcon 9 Size & Payload Capacity
Falcon 9 measures an impressive 70 meters in height and 3.7 meters in diameter, but Starship considerably exists these figures, with its 120 m height and 9 m width. Such difference in size is explained by different payload capacities — whereas Falcon is built to carry up to 22,800 kg to LEO, Starship should be able to carry up to 100,000 kg to the same destination.
But Starship is built with longer distances in mind; for example, it should be able to 21,000 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) — almost as much as Falcon 9 carries to LEO, the closest orbit to us, measuring between 160 and 2,000 km altitude. In contrast, GTO is considerably higher, with an apogee exceeding 35,000 km.
Besides, unlike Falcon, Starship is built to deliver unprecedented amounts of cargo to the Moon and Mars — right now, SpaceX announces more or less the same payload capacity for interplanetary missions as it does for LEO. But the real difference is that Starship should be able to accommodate up to 100 passengers in a single flight.
Starship vs Falcon 9 Price per Launch
According to space news, Falcon 9 is currently one of the cheapest launchers, with a single launch costing around $62 million. This brings the cost per kilogram of payload delivery to orbit to under $3,000, a rate unmatched by any other launch operator. The only rocket more affordable per kilogram is SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which costs roughly $1,500 per kilogram of payload.
The cost of a Starship launch is expected to be between $2 million and $20 million. However, since the rocket is not yet operational, we’ll need to wait for its debut flight to get more accurate figures. Like other creations by Elon Musk, Starship seems to be another major step toward making launches more affordable. While Falcon 9 and Heavy are already the most cost-effective orbital launchers, they are only partially reusable. Starship, on the other hand, should be fully reusable, which will inevitably reduce its cost per launch.
Why is Starship so special?
By now, it should be clear that Starship should be a truly exceptional rocket once operational. But this launcher is extraordinary not only because of its far-ranging destinations, great cargo capacity, and the possibility to accommodate manned crews. Here are some other features that make Starship the most advanced rocket in development:
- Full reusability: unlike Falcon, Starship will reuse all of its stages, which is a revolutionary technology no one attempted before. As already mentioned, this should drastically decrease its cost per launch. Besides, it potentially shortens launch preparation time and, consequently, intervals between Starship launches.
- Clean fuel combustion: the carrier will use liquid methane (CH₄) and liquid oxygen (O₂) as its propellant, a unique combination called methalox. Methane should ensure higher thrust and engine efficiency, as a result, maximising Starship payload capacity. Besides, methane can be mined directly on Mars (which is the plan), so Starship will not need to carry fuel for a return trip. Next, methane burns cleaner than conventional fuels, including refined kerosene Falcon 9 uses.
- Multi-purpose design: unlike Falcon, Starship is built to accommodate different launch purposes, with potential applications ranging from satellite deployment and space station resupply to crewed missions and space tourism — something not even Falcon can accomplish today.
So, is Starship the most powerful rocket ever? Right now, it certainly looks this way, even though this carrier is still in testing. Falcon 9, on the other hand, is already the most flown and cost-effective spacecraft in operation. Right now, we all wait for Starship’s debut launch — and, considering how SpaceX’s Falcon modifications turned out, this one should soon exceed all expectations!