Since the dawn of the Space Age, engineers have pushed rocketry to ever-more mind-boggling heights in the quest to explore space. Of all these aerial titans, two stand apart in scale and ambition—NASA‘s Saturn V that carried astronauts to the Moon in the 1960s-70s, and the still-in-testing SpaceX Starship, which aims to transport settlers to Mars.
Join me as we put these mega capacity rockets side-by-side to see how the best of the early Space Age stacks up against technology from the present era. You‘ll learn some rocket science, compare their eye-popping specs, and glimpse thrilling visions of the future as we determine which heavyweight champ ultimately wins in a Saturn V vs SpaceX Starship matchup!
Background on the Iconic Saturn V Moon Rocket
The Saturn V‘s story begins in the late 1950s as the United States rushed to match early Soviet accomplishments in spaceflight. The Eisenhower administration tapped famed rocket scientist Wernher von Braun to devise a system for crewed missions beyond Earth orbit. Von Braun proposed a modular three-stage launch vehicle standing over 350 feet tall.
After President Kennedy‘s famous 1962 declaration to put a man on the Moon, NASA leadership approved Von Braun‘s audacious rocket design. Built under intense pressure, the first Saturn V launched flawlessly in 1967. Within just two years it had delivered Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin to humanity‘s first footsteps on another world!
Over 13 launches between 1967-1973, Saturn V rockets compiled a perfect operational record and 100% mission success rate. This Titans lifted all Apollo spacecraft plus the Skylab space station without major incident. Truly a triumph of scientific ingenuity, it achieved its singular goal of lunar landings with incredible reliability despite the rushed timeline.
Fun fact – at 363 feet, the Saturn V holds the title for tallest rocket ever built! That‘s taller than London‘s Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty. Meanwhile its 7.5 million pounds of first stage thrust remains the highest ever achieved at launch.
SpaceX Starship Seeks Mars and Beyond
Jump 50 years into the future and Elon Musk‘s private spaceflight company SpaceX is developing an equally giant rocket to realize new extraterrestrial ambitions. First unveiled in 2012 as the Mars Colonial Transporter, the 394 ft rocket now called Starship aims to ferry over 100 colonists at a time to build communities on the Red Planet.
SpaceX designed both stages of this new heavy-lift vehicle to be fully reusable. Named Starship and Super Heavy, they will launch together then detach in space. After completing their missions, they‘ll return to Earth for powered vertical landings minutes later.
This incredibly rapid reuse could slash costs 100-fold from traditional expendable rockets, opening space to new commercial opportunities.
Initial test flights show promise but ended in explosive fashion upon landing. The latest Starship prototype stuck its touchdown successfully in May 2022, bringing the rocket one step closer to its first orbital launch debut.
Musk claims that by 2030 a fleet of Starships could carry multiple groups of settlers to start constructing Mars‘ first city. With even more speculative plans for bases on more distant worlds, Starship aims to make sci-fi into reality by finally realizing humanity‘s interplanetary migration dreams!
Technical Specifications Compared
Now that you‘re caught up on their backstories, let‘s directly compare some key measurements of these mega capacity rockets to appreciate their sheer scale.
| Specification | Saturn V | SpaceX Starship |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 363 feet | 394 feet |
| Diameter | 33 feet | 30 feet |
| Mass | 207 tons* | 330 tons |
| Stages | 3 | 2 |
| Engines | 5 x F-1, 5 x J-2 | Up to 33 x Raptor |
| Total Thrust | 7.89 million lb | 16.9 million lb |
| Fuel | RP-1/LOX | Liquid Methane/LOX |
| Payload to LEO | 310,000 lb* | 220,000 lb |
| Record | 13/13 success | Prototype testing |
*Without Apollo Lunar Module payload
With both rockets standing taller than all but the loftiest skyscrapers, we really start to grasp the extreme engineering involved. The newcomer Starship edges out Saturn V in height – but let‘s focus on what‘s inside.
Despite a 50 year gap in development, we find very close alignment on some core specs like dimensions. Yet SpaceX‘s design incorporates multitudes more advanced engines plus builds in reusability from the start via durable steel alloy construction. This shows how far propulsion and materials science has advanced since the Saturn V‘s 1960‘s design process.
The Starship‘s upgraded capacity for payload tonnage to orbit also demonstrates progress in rocketry. With over twice the thrust concentrated from its 33 next-gen Raptor engines, the Starship can hoist these larger masses despite a heavier dry weight than the Saturn V.
Now you might notice that the Starship‘s total payload figures fall slightly below the Saturn V‘s achievements. However, we must consider that SpaceX‘s rocket was conceived for much farther destinations than low Earth orbit. Musk intends the Starship will transport colonists plus all needed cargo for constructing permanent settlements on Mars. That‘s over 1000 times farther trip than the Apollo flights! We should cut the Starship some slack on LEO payload if it achieves its ambitious aims in deep space.
Feats and Stumbles on the Path to Space
Both rockets can jaw-drop us with their projected capabilities. But let‘s reflect on some real accomplishments that cemented their places in history.
The Saturn V performed absolutely perfectly across all 13 of its crewed and uncrewed launches between 1967-1973. This flawless track record secured the Saturn V‘s fame by lofting nine manned Apollo spacecraft to circle or land on the Moon. Add bonuses for then launching Skylab – America‘s first space station.
By today‘s risk standards that‘s an unbelievable achievement given the hurried timescale. Dodging major failure on every single mission demonstrates good fortune and rigorous quality control. One slight engineering oversight or construction fault could have doomed a multi-billion-dollar payload and crew of astronauts. Hats off to the NASA personnel who achieved mission success every time under immense pressure!
For the Starship, concrete triumphs remain mostly on the horizon…but we glimpse that bright future in its recent test flights. Its prototype SN15 stuck the first clean landing in May 2021. And though still awaiting its debut orbital launch at time of writing, the rocket has cleared crucial FAA reviews.
True to SpaceX‘s "test fast and often" philosophy, earlier prototypes met explosive fates. But as the Falcon 9 rocket showed, SpaceX learns ruthlessly from every failure. The Starship combines now proven technology like grid fins and leg struts from Falcon with cutting-edge Raptor engines and steel alloy skins. Standing on the shoulders of past designs, it is so close to writing spectacular history of its own.
And fair warning – once operational, the Starship will suffer anomalies in its expected high flight rate. But persisted through the inevitable glitches, I am confident SpaceX will send these rockets multiplying across space year after year.
Saturn V vs Starship: Which Rocket Flies Highest?
We‘ve covered lots of details now in comparing these mega-rockets. If choosing a winner, which titan comes out on top?
In audacity of vision and potential, Starship seems unmatched. Its immense strength and intelligent reuse plan can build bridges to space programs of the future. Hundreds ofMars migrants setting foot on the dusty plains of their new home would mark an unprecedented milestone for humanity. And furthermore, that planet is just one stop on the Starship’s manifest across the solar system!
But realize that these astonishing dreams remain untested today. The Saturn V, meanwhile, seized its sole chance to secure eternal renown. It emerged literal triumph from a trial-by-fire during the most urgent space race of the 20th century. The Saturn V also bested Starship for now in flawless reliability and unmanned cargo capacity.
Ultimately I choose neither as an outright “winner.” Each rocket rings as an unmatched product of its era, fulfilling unique ambitions before retreating into history books. We cannot erase the Saturn V’s past glories that hinted at today’s bright horizons. Yet tomorrow may still see the SpaceX Starship eclipse all rivals to finally elevate humanity from one world to many. I vote we call it a draw for these legends—with hopes the ‘Ship soon claims the belt!
I’ve aimed today to balance deserved praise of the Saturn V‘s achievements with justified excitement for the pending promise of SpaceX‘s creation. Landing humans on Mars would resonate through generations as boldly as Apollo‘s lunar footsteps still echo down the decades. So while raising glasses to the rocketeers of yesteryear, let‘s also cheer Musk’s team chasing that crimson dream!
May the legacy of mighty rockets propel Earthlings ever deeper into space in search of our shared future. I’m thrilled to have shared some insider knowledge and stats with you today. Let me know your thoughts on these awe-inspiring mega machines in the comments!
