Genius! SpaceX big Solution to Launch Dragon to the Moon Instead of NASA 4$ Billion Rocket...
"Genius! SpaceX big Solution to Launch Dragon to the Moon Instead of NASA 4$ Billion Rocket...
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#techmap #techmaps #elonmusk #starshipspacex #starship
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intro 0:00
Dragon to the Moon without Gateway 1:12
NASA’s own plan 7:51
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1) SOURCES OF THUMBNAIL
2) SOURCES OF IMAGES AND VIDEOS
velin3d: https://www.youtube.com/c/velin3d/
Tony Bela : https://twitter.com/InfographicTony/
Evan Karen: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDN1X8Fz1oAXX-rBcOWjzmg
TijnM : https://twitter.com/m_tijn
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDA8yz_nQY-0Uxd96-qxYjA
Stanley Creative: https://www.youtube.com/@StanleyCreative/
Erc X: https://twitter.com/ErcXspace
ErcX Space https://www.youtube.com/c/ErcXSpace/
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Genius! SpaceX big Solution to Launch Dragon to the Moon Instead of NASA 4$ Billion Rocket...
This is SpaceX’s Dragon, a spacecraft that’s earned its reputation through years of reliable missions to Low Earth Orbit. But what if SpaceX took things a step further and transformed Dragon into a deep-space explorer?
Well, they actually did. Meet Dragon XL, SpaceX’s upgraded version of Dragon, designed specifically to resupply NASA’s Lunar Gateway space station as part of the Artemis program.
Yeah, it’s just as awesome as it sounds. A deep-space Dragon isn’t just a cool engineering feat, it’s a smart move. It offers an affordable and ready-to-go solution that fits seamlessly with the pressing objective of getting humans back to the Moon ahead of China.
Genius! SpaceX big Solution to Launch Dragon to the Moon Instead of NASA 4$ Billion Rocket...
But here’s the twist: NASA’s latest budget proposal could throw a wrench in everything. It’s slashing funding for some of Artemis’ core components, including the Lunar Gateway and critical logistics systems like Dragon XL.
That means it’s time to start thinking outside the box. Can Dragon make it to the Moon without relying on NASA’s infrastructure?
We’re diving into all of that and more, right here on today’s episode of Techmap!
NASA’s proposed 2026 budget is turning heads—and for good reason. It marks a dramatic shift, winding down key elements of the Artemis program. We’re talking about retiring the Lunar Gateway space station, the Space Launch System rocket, and the Orion crew capsule—all after just two more missions. Given the program’s track record of delays and budget overruns, this move might not shock many. But it does come with some disappointment—especially for fans of SpaceX—because it effectively cancels one of their most. Now, Dragon XL isn’t just a larger version of SpaceX’s existing Dragon. It’s a dedicated cargo vehicle built specifically for deep space, intended to revolutionize how we deliver supplies beyond Earth. Under NASA’s Gateway Logistics Services contract, Dragon XL—launched atop the powerful Falcon Heavy—was set to begin lunar deliveries sometime between 2025 and Artemis 4’s crewed mission in 2028. But if Lunar Gateway is off the table, Dragon XL’s future looks bleak. It was designed to dock with a lunar orbiting station, and it’s far too big and over-engineered for simpler missions like resupplying the ISS.
Genius! SpaceX big Solution to Launch Dragon to the Moon Instead of NASA 4$ Billion Rocket...
So, is this the end of SpaceX’s lunar Dragon dreams? Not quite. Enter the ‘Gray Dragon’ concept—an idea put forward by Dr. Robert Zubrin, president of Pioneer Astronautics. Back in 2020, Zubrin penned a compelling article titled “Send the SpaceX Dragon to the Moon.” According to him, NASA’s SLS isn’t strong enough to send Orion all the way to low lunar orbit and still return it safely—unlike the Apollo-era missions. That’s why NASA envisioned the Gateway: a sort of halfway house in high lunar orbit. The problem? This detour makes the mission far more complex and fuel-hungry, especially for landers trying to get from Gateway to the Moon and back. It’s like using a Rube Goldberg machine to do a simple task—and it’s both expensive and time-consuming.
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