#iac2016

SpaceX reveals Interplanetary Transport System

At the 2016 International Astronomical Congress in Mexico earlier today, SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced the company’s architecture for interplanetary travel.

The Interplanetary Transport System will be capable of sending at least 100 people to Mars and other destinations in our solar system, and consists of three major elements - passenger ship, fuel tanker, and booster rocket. Launching from historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, the passenger space ship is sent into orbit without any fuel. The first stage of the booster returns to a precision landing on the launch mount, where the fuel tanker space ship is then mated to the landed rocket. This tanker meets the passenger space ship in Earth orbit, where it transfers the propellant necessary for escaping Earth’s orbit and landing on another planet. Two large solar arrays will provide power for the spacecraft during its cruise phase. After around 80 days in interplanetary space, the ship enters the Martian atmosphere on its side in a matter similar to that of a lifting body. Landing occurs using three Raptor engines and landing legs. Musk stated that the system will boast complete reusability, with the boosters expected to fly 1,000 missions, the propellant tankers 100 missions, and the passenger ships up to 12 round-trip missions.

Design work for the ITS has occurred over the last few years at SpaceX facilities, and Musk hopes that the first missions could be launched in the 2023 Mars launch opportunity. Last week saw the first test of the Raptor engine, and test articles for the rocket’s propellant takes have been fabricated.

Watch SpaceX’s trailer video for the ITS here.