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 Figure 2: Starship crew (left) and uncrewed (right) available for payloads requiring up to 22 m of height. 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