STARSHIP

USERS
GUIDE
Revision 1.0 | March 2020

COPYRIGHT
Subject to the existing rights of third parties, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is the owner of the copyright in this
work, and no portion hereof is to be copied, reproduced, or disseminated without the prior written consent of SpaceX.

© Space Exploration Technologies Corp. All rights reserved.

 STARSHIP PAYLOAD GUIDE

COMPANY DESCRIPTION
SpaceX was founded in 2002 to revolutionize access
to space and enable a multi-planetary society. Today,
SpaceX performs routine missions to space with its
Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles for a
diverse set of customers, including the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the
Department of Defense, international governments,
and leading commercial companies. SpaceX provides
further support to NASA with the Dragon spacecraft by
conducting cargo resupply and return missions to and
from the International Space Station (ISS). Soon,
SpaceX will begin transporting crew to the ISS as well.
To offer competitive launch and resupply services,
SpaceX has incorporated reusability into the Falcon
and Dragon systems, which improves vehicle reliability
while reducing cost. The Starship Program now
leverages SpaceX’s experience to introduce a next-
generation, super heavy-lift space transportation
system capable of rapid and reliable reuse.

STARSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SpaceX’s Starship system represents a fully reusable
transportation system designed to service Earth orbit
needs as well as missions to the Moon and Mars. This
two-stage vehicle—composed of the Super Heavy
rocket (booster) and Starship (spacecraft) as shown in
Figure 1—is powered by sub-cooled methane and
oxygen. Starship is designed to evolve rapidly to meet
near term and future customer needs while maintaining
the highest level of reliability.

STARSHIP USERS GUIDE

Starship has the capability to transport satellites,
payloads, crew, and cargo to a variety of orbits and
Earth, Lunar, or Martian landing sites. Potential
Starship customers can use this guide as a resource
for preliminary payload accommodations information.
This is the initial release of the Starship Users Guide
and it will be updated frequently in response to
customer feedback.

PAYLOAD CONFIGURATIONS
Starship crew and uncrewed configurations are shown
in Figure 2. The uncrewed Starship allows for the
transport of satellites, large observatories, cargo,
refueling tanks or other unmanned assets. Subsequent
sections provide an overview of the preliminary volume
and mechanical interfaces available; preliminary
Figure 1: Starship and Super Heavy
payload environments expected; and the preliminary
mass-to-orbit capabilities of Starship. Please contact
[email protected] to evaluate how Starship can meet
your unique needs.

© Space Exploration Technologies Corp. All rights reserved. 1

 STARSHIP PAYLOAD GUIDE

Figure 3: Starship payload deployment sequence

PAYLOAD VOLUME
Starship’s 8 m diameter payload dynamic envelope is
shown in Figure 4. This large deployable envelope
allows for the design of novel payloads, rideshare
opportunities and entire constellations of satellites on a
single launch. An extended payload volume is also
available for payloads requiring up to 22 m of height.
Figure 2: Starship crew (left) and uncrewed (right)
configurations

PAYLOAD MECHANICAL INTERFACES

PAYLOAD FAIRING
The standard Starship payload fairing is 9 m in outer
diameter resulting in the largest usable payload volume
of any current or in development launcher.
The Starship payload fairing is a clamshell structure in
which the payload is integrated. Once integrated, the
clamshell fairing remains closed through launch up
until the payload is ready to deploy. An example
sequence of payload deployment is shown in Figure 3.
To deploy the payload, the clamshell fairing door is
opened, and the payload adapter and payload are tilted
at an angle in preparation for separation. The payload
is then separated using the mission-unique payload
adapter. If there are multiple payloads on a single
mission, a rotating mechanism can be provided to
allow each satellite to separate with maximum
clearance. Once separation is confirmed and the
payload(s) have cleared the fairing, the payload fairing
door is closed in preparation for Starship’s return to
Earth.

Figure 4: Starship payload volume (dimensions in m)

© Space Exploration Technologies Corp. All rights reserved. 2

 STARSHIP PAYLOAD GUIDE

PAYLOAD MANIFESTING commanded after integration into the fairing without

Satellite customers may be manifested on single or facility located payload EGSE. This covers final pre-
multi-manifest missions. Customers can bring a single launch events in the processing facility and on the
spacecraft, coordinate their own rideshares for a single launch pad, and some of these electrical interfaces
Starship launch, or work with SpaceX to take may continue to be available in-flight. Contact
advantage of a multi-manifest launch. Customer [email protected] for more information or other
missions do not need to wait for co-passengers in order options.
to fly.

The unique and large geometry of the Starship payload

bay also opens new opportunities for payload ENVIRONMENTS
integration. For payloads requiring additional structural Utilizing strong heritage and lessons learned from the
support, Starship has the ability to mount supports development of the Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and Falcon
along the sidewalls or nose to interface with trunnion- Heavy launch systems, SpaceX is designing Starship
style interfaces on the payloads, similar to those and Super Heavy to provide as benign of a payload
employed on NASA’s Space Shuttle orbiters. When environment as possible. SpaceX will ensure that
large payloads are co-manifested on Starship, they are Starship environments meet or improve upon those of
generally mounted side-by-side on the payload the Falcon Heavy launch system. To aid in the design
adapter. This reduces technical and schedule of space vehicles capable of flying on Starship,
dependencies between rideshare participants SpaceX is providing the following preliminary payload
compared to stacked configurations. environments.

Example single-mission manifests: LOADS

SpaceX is designing Starship to ensure that
 1-3x geosynchronous telecom satellite(s) acceleration environments are well within industry
 Full constellation of satellites on a single standard levels. During flight, the payload will
mission experience a range of axial and lateral accelerations.
 1-2x geosynchronous telecom satellites plus Both the Super Heavy and Starship engines can be
rideshare system of small satellites throttled to help maintain launch vehicle and payload
 In-space demonstration spacecraft that remains acceleration limits.
integrated with Starship and returns to Earth
 Cargo and crew configurations

PAYLOAD ADAPTERS
The Starship payload attach fitting is designed to
accommodate standard payload interface systems in
single- or multi-manifest configurations. SpaceX will
either provide and integrate a payload adapter and
clampband separation system or will integrate an
adapter and separation system provided by the
customer. As a baseline, Starship is compatible with
heritage Falcon 937-mm, 1194-mm, 1666-mm and
2624-mm clampband interface requirements, including
Figure 5: Payload maximum design load factors
the ability to host multiple payloads side by side given
the large diameter available. For customers with The maximum expected design load factors for a single
alternative interface requirements, SpaceX has a wide payload mission launching on Starship are shown in
breadth of experience designing and manufacturing Figure 5. Actual payload dynamic loads, accelerations,
non-standard adapters and separation systems. and deflections are a function of the dynamic coupling
between Starship and the payload. These loads can be
PAYLOAD ELECTRICAL INTERFACES accurately determined via a coupled loads analysis.
Starship will replicate common payload power and data For payload specific loads or rideshare loads
interface standards on the flight vehicle in lieu of assessments, contact [email protected].
customer-provided electrical ground support
equipment (EGSE) for final pre-launch operations. This
will allow the payload to be powered, monitored, and

© Space Exploration Technologies Corp. All rights reserved. 3

 STARSHIP PAYLOAD GUIDE

ACOUSTICS SHOCK
During flight, the payload will be subjected to a range SpaceX is designing Starship to have benign shock
of acoustic environments. Levels are highest during environments. Stage separation and payload fairing
liftoff and transonic flight, due to acoustic and door opening will generate negligible shock
aerodynamic excitations. The maximum expected environments at the payload interface. Consequently,
payload acoustic environments are shown in Table 1 the maximum shock environment is typically due to the
and Figure 6 in one-third octave bands. Contact payload separation system selected for the mission.
[email protected] for mission specific low frequency Typical maximum shock levels at the payload
acoustic assessments. separation plane induced by payload separation
systems are provided in Table 2 below.
Frequency Acoustic Limit Levels
(Hz) 1/3 Octave Frequency Shock SRS
100 130 (Hz) (g-peak)
125 130 100 20
160 130 1000 1000
200 130 10000 1000
250 129
Table 2: Typical payload separation-induced shock at
315 127 the payload separation plane
400 124.5
500 122
630 118.5
PAYLOAD INTEGRATION
800 115.5
SpaceX is initially planning for two launch sites for the
1000 113
Starship vehicle:
1250 111
1600 109.5  Kennedy Space Center LC-39A | 28.6082° N
2000 108.5 latitude, 80.6041° W longitude
2500 107.5  Boca Chica launch pad | 25.9971° N latitude,
97.1554° W longitude
3150 106.5
4000 105.5 For payloads requiring return to Earth, landing sites are
5000 104.5 coordinated with SpaceX and could include Kennedy
6300 103.5 Space Center, FL or Boca Chica, TX.
8000 102.5 Payloads are integrated into the Starship fairing
10000 101.5 vertically in ISO Class 8 (Class 100,000) cleanrooms.
OASPL (dB) 137.7 Then the integrated payload stack is transferred to the
launch pad and lifted onto the Starship vehicle, while
Table 1: Payload acoustic environment (1/3 octave)
maintaining the same vertical orientation throughout
the entire process. Conditioned air is delivered into the
fairing during encapsulated ground processing while in
the processing facility and on the launch pad.

PAYLOAD SEPARATION
SpaceX provides in-flight commanding and monitoring
of the payload separation system(s). Starship can
perform 3-axis attitude controlled or spin-stabilized
spacecraft separation. Note that certain spacecraft
separation maneuvers may reduce available payload
volume. Collision avoidance maneuvers will be
performed as required.
Figure 6: Payload acoustic environment (1/3 octave)

© Space Exploration Technologies Corp. All rights reserved. 4

 STARSHIP PAYLOAD GUIDE

PERFORMANCE CREW CONFIGURATION

The Starship and Super Heavy system offers SpaceX was founded with the goal of making life multi-
substantial mass-to-orbit capabilities. At the baseline planetary. The Starship program is realizing this goal
reusable design, Starship can deliver over 100 metric with the crew configuration of Starship. Drawing on
tons to LEO. Utilizing parking orbit refueling, Starship experience from the development of Dragon for the
is able to deliver unprecedented payload mass to a Commercial Crew Program, the Starship crew
variety of Earth, cislunar, and interplanetary configuration can transport up to 100 people from Earth
trajectories. A summary of available Starship into LEO and on to the Moon and Mars. The crew
capabilities is provided in Table 3 below. The single configuration of Starship includes private cabins, large
launch mass-to-orbit assumes no orbital refueling of common areas, centralized storage, solar storm
Starship. The maximum mass-to-orbit assumes shelters and a viewing gallery.
parking orbit propellant transfer, allowing for a
substantial increase in payload mass. These
performance numbers assume full Starship reuse,
including Super Heavy return to launch site. For
performance estimates to a specific orbit, please
contact [email protected].

Orbit Mass-to-Orbit Mass-to-

Single Launch Orbit Prop
Transfer (t)
LEO1 100+ 100+
GTO2 21 100+
Lunar Surface N/A 100+
Figure 8: Starship Crew Configuration
Mars Surface N/A 100+
1Up to 500-km circular orbit at up to 98.9-deg inclination
2Assumes 185 x 35,786 km orbit at 27-deg inclination with 1800 m/s V to go

Table 3: Expected Starship Performance ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES

Fully-reusable Starship and Super Heavy systems are
expected to allow for space-based activities that have
CARGO CONFIGURATION not been possible since the retirement of the Space
Starship was designed from the onset to be able to Shuttle and Space Transportation System or have
carry more than 100 tons of cargo to Mars and the never been possible before. With a fully reusable
Moon. The cargo version can also be used for rapid Starship, satellites can be captured and repaired in
point-to-point Earth transport. Various payload bay orbit, returned to Earth, or transferred to a new
configurations are available and allow for fully operational orbit. For more information on additional
autonomous deployment of cargo to Earth, Lunar, or capabilities or to conceptualize new ideas, please
Martian surfaces with one example shown in Figure 7. contact [email protected].

Figure 7: Cargo Starship on Lunar Surface

© Space Exploration Technologies Corp. All rights reserved. 5