The Most Powerful Rockets Ever Built: From Saturn V to SpaceX Starship

From the Saturn V that sent humans to the moon to the SpaceX Starship currently on the brink of launch, rockets have been the cornerstone of space exploration. In this article, we explore the specifications, purposes, and histories of the most powerful rockets ever built. Whether it's the maximum payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or maximum thrust that defines "power," the Saturn V and SpaceX Starship stand out as trailblazers in the field.

SpaceX Starship/Superheavy Stack

The SpaceX Starship/Superheavy stack, with its immense size and capability, represents a monumental achievement in rocket technology. Currently in development, this system is set to revolutionize space travel with its unprecedented specifications.

Height: 121 meters (397 feet)

Diameter: 9 meters (29.5 feet)

Fully fueled mass: 5000 metric tons (11000000 pounds)

Booster stage power: 33 Raptor engines

Booster maximum thrust: 74000 kiloNewtons (16.7 million pound-feet)

payload to LEO (expendable configuration): estimated by SpaceX at 200 metric tons

payload to LEO (reusable configuration): estimated at 150 metric tons

As of March 14, 2024, the Starship successfully reached orbital velocity during its third test flight (IFT-3), demonstrating its potential. However, the mission design included a re-entry in the Indian Ocean, so it did not complete a full Earth orbit. Prolific testing in the weeks to come will determine its readiness for the first launch attempt.

Apollonian Legacy: Saturn V

The Saturn V was the most powerful successful rocket to date, built with the primary purpose of sending astronauts to the moon and back. First used in 1967, it played a critical role in the Apollo program, landing several missions on the lunar surface from 1969 to the 1970s. Despite the Apollo 13 failure, all remaining missions successfully returned astronauts to Earth.

Comprising 5 stages, the Saturn V's specifications were staggering:

Maximum payload to LEO: 140000 kg

Maximum thrust at sea level: 7750000 lbf (34500 kN)

Total cost: approximately 50 billion dollars as of today's terms (USD)

Number of uses (Apollo missions): 13

The Saturn V launched 13 times, with each mission contributing significantly to the success of the Apollo program. It set the standard for what a rocket of this magnitude could achieve in terms of payload and thrust.

Current and Future: Space Launch System SLS

The Space Launch System (SLS) follows in the footsteps of the Saturn V, designed to launch next-generation missions to the moon and beyond. Currently, the SLS has launched once for the Artemis 1 mission on November 16, 2022. Future versions of SLS are expected to increase its payload to LEO to 130000 kg.

Maximum thrust: 8.8 million pounds

Payload to LEO (initial stage): 95000 kg

Payload to LEO (planned future version): 130000 kg

Number of uses (as of now): 1

While the SLS is currently in use, it pales in comparison to the planned future versions. The SLS’s primary mission is to support the Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the moon and establish a sustainable presence there.

Conclusion

The SpaceX Starship and the Saturn V both stand as pioneering rockets, each with its own unique qualities. The Starship, with its potential to launch massive payloads to LEO and even Mars, is set to redefine the boundaries of space exploration. The Saturn V, on the other hand, remains a symbol of human ingenuity and the pursuit of extraterrestrial achievement.

No matter how you define "most powerful," both these rockets have left an indelible mark on the history of space travel. As technology continues to evolve, bigger and better rockets will undoubtedly take us further and push the limits of what we can achieve in space.