SpaceX could attempt first in-flight refueling for world’s biggest rocket

SpaceX 可能會嘗試為世界上最大的火箭進行首次空中加油

SpaceX is planning to test a critical technique for Moon and deep space missions during the next launch of its Starship rocket, according to Nasa.

據美國宇航局稱，SpaceX 計劃在下次發射其「星際飛船」火箭時測試月球和深空任務的關鍵技術。

The third major flight test of the world’s biggest rocket is expected to take place early next year after the first two attempts ended in explosions.

世界上最大火箭的第三次主要飛行測試預計將於明年初進行，前兩次嘗試均以爆炸告終。

Future versions of the spacecraft will be used to help deliver people to the Moon as part of Nasa’s Artemis program. Key to this mission will be the ability to perform an inflight propellant transfer, which could be attempted during the next test flight that aims to launch Starship from Texas and land it in Hawaii.

作為美國太空總署阿爾忒彌斯計畫的一部分，該太空船的未來版本將用於幫助將人們送上月球。這項任務的關鍵是能夠執行飛行中推進劑轉移，這可以在下一次試飛期間嘗試，該試飛旨在從德克薩斯州發射星艦並將其降落在夏威夷。

A spokesperson for the US space agency told CNBC that discussions are currently underway to try the orbital refuelling technology.

美國航太局發言人告訴 CNBC，目前正在討論嘗試軌道加油技術。

“Nasa and SpaceX are reviewing options for the demonstration to take place during an integrated flight test of Starship and the Super Heavy rocket,” the Nasa official said. “However, no final decisions on timing have been made.”

美國宇航局官員表示：“美國宇航局和 SpaceX 正在審查在星際飛船和超重型火箭綜合飛行測試期間進行演示的選擇。” “但是，尚未就時間做出最終決定。”

For the test to succeed, Starship would need to reach low-Earth orbit – something SpaceX is yet to achieve.

為了使測試成功，星際飛船需要到達近地軌道——而 SpaceX 尚未實現這一目標。

The first attempt on 20 April this year ended when both stages of the rocket exploded after attempting to separate a few minutes after launch.

今年 4 月 20 日的第一次嘗試結束了，當時火箭的兩級在發射幾分鐘後試圖分離後爆炸。

The second high-altitude flight test on 18 November was more successful, becoming the first to achieve hot-staging separation. This saw the top part of the rocket separate from the Super Heavy booster using its onboard engines, however both parts of the rocket were ultimately lost.

11月18日的第二次高空飛行試驗更加成功，成為首次進行熱升分離。這使得火箭的頂部部分與使用其機載發動機的超重型助推器分離，但火箭的兩個部分最終都丟失了。

The inflight fuel transfer will be the first test of a system designed to eventually allow Starship to refuel from an external tanker in Earth’s orbit.

飛行中的燃料傳輸將是對最終允許星艦從地球軌道上的外部加油機加油的系統的首次測試。

“The goal is to advance cryogenic fluid transfer and fill level gauging technology through technology risk assessment, design and prototype testing, and in-orbit demonstration,” Nasa said.

美國宇航局表示：“我們的目標是通過技術風險評估、設計和原型測試以及在軌演示來推進低溫流體傳輸和液位測量技術。”

“The demonstration will decrease key risks for large-scale propellant transfer in the lead-up to future human spaceflight missions.”

“這次演示將降低未來載人航天任務之前大規模推進劑轉移的主要風險。”

Following the November launch, SpaceX boss Elon Musk said the next Starship rocket system should be “ready to fly in three to four weeks” but the timeline will depend on the speed of external reviews undertaken by regulatory agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

11 月發射後，SpaceX 老闆馬斯克表示，下一個Starship 火箭系統應該“在三到四個星期內準備好飛行”，但時間表將取決於美國聯邦航空管理局(FAA) 等監管機構進行外部審查的速度。

Mr Musk has been known for his ambitious development deadlines, which have frequently been pushed back. His ultimate goal for Starship is to build hundreds of the rockets in order to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2050.

馬斯克先生以其雄心勃勃的開發期限而聞名，但這些期限經常被推遲。他對 Starship 的最終目標是建造數百枚火箭，以便在 2050 年之前在火星上建立永久的人類殖民地。