There are many ways to build space stations. This post looks at how and why building them using SpaceX Starships is a good idea.
Watch the following animation for and overview to the concept:
Easy to Deploy
One of the key advantages of using Starship as a space station is it's ease of deployment
- A single launch create one space station
- Two launches gives a space station with gravity
- Nothing needs to be build in space
- For the gravity station, only a docking maneuver is required for this to be built
Station Size
Using a standard HLS Starship variant, each ships becomes a station equivalent in useable size to the International Space Station (ISS).
If a Stationship variant of Starship is used, then each ship is twice the station size of ISS. When combined into a gravity station, that four times the size.
Watch the following to learn more about Stationships:
Everything is prepared before launch
Another major plus is everything is prepared and built on earth without needing any assembly in space.
Given that Starships are build on a production line, many can be built. They could all be made the same or internal fitout could be tailored to different needs.
A research lab, hotel, private space holiday station - the options are endless.
They are cheap
Compared to any other space stations of a similar size, a Stationship is very cheap. This is mostly due to rapid production, which brings the cost down.
It is also due to the reusable nature of the super heavy booster that will launch them. With reuse the price per launch is greatly reduced.
Conclusion
Given that space stations made from Starships have all these advantages, it seems only logical to use them in this way.
They are easy to deploy, are big, do not require assemble in space, and are cheap.
Let build some!