The Saturn V and Starship are both rockets designed for space travel, but they differ significantly in size, thrust, and technology.
Key Differences Between Saturn V and Starship
Here's a breakdown of the major differences between these two launch vehicles:
| Feature | Saturn V | Starship & Super Heavy |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 363 feet | 394 feet |
| Liftoff Thrust | 7.6 million pounds | Up to 16 million pounds |
Size and Thrust
- Height: The Starship and Super Heavy combination stands taller than the Saturn V.
- The Saturn V measured 363 feet in height.
- The Starship, when stacked with its Super Heavy booster, reaches a height of 394 feet.
- Thrust: The Super Heavy booster of Starship is designed to produce significantly more thrust than the Saturn V.
- The Saturn V generated 7.6 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
- Starship's Super Heavy booster is engineered to produce up to 16 million pounds of thrust, which is more than twice that of the Saturn V.
Other Notable Differences
While the provided reference focuses mainly on height and thrust, it is important to note other differences:
- Technology: Saturn V used older, conventional rocket technology of its time. Starship uses newer technologies such as:
- Reusable stages (both Starship and the Super Heavy booster are intended to be fully reusable).
- Raptor engines (Starship uses methane-fueled Raptor engines, while Saturn V used kerosene-fueled F-1 engines).
- Purpose: Saturn V was primarily designed for the Apollo lunar missions. Starship is being developed for a variety of purposes, including:
- Lunar missions
- Mars missions
- Point-to-point Earth travel
In summary, while both rockets are colossal feats of engineering, the Starship is designed to be larger, more powerful, and reusable, with a wider range of mission capabilities compared to the Saturn V.
