Sumner-Class Destroyer...IN SPACE

Sometimes I have to put comparisons like this up to remind myself how important Starship is....

I compared the cost of building a Sumner-Class Destroyer in space using Starship with the cost of the ISS. I chose the Sumner because there is a similar destroyer, but not of the same class, that is a museum ship about 20 minutes from where I live, and my grandpa was stationed on one in the 1960s. I did this to test out the capabilities of ChatGPT4o and I was impressed.

Here is what it said:

To estimate how many launches of SpaceX's Starship would be needed to build a Sumner-Class Destroyer in space and the total cost of the project, we'll need to consider the following key factors:

Step 1: Weight of the Sumner-Class Destroyer

A Sumner-Class Destroyer (e.g., the USS Allen M. Sumner) has a full load displacement of about 2,200 tons (2,200,000 kg).

Step 2: Payload Capacity of Starship

SpaceX's Starship, when fully operational, is expected to have a payload capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) of about 100 tons (100,000 kg) per launch.

Step 3: Calculating the Number of Launches

To transport the full weight of a Sumner-Class Destroyer to space:

\[ \text{Number of launches} = \frac{\text{Total weight}}{\text{Payload per launch}} = \frac{2,200,000 \text{ kg}}{100,000 \text{ kg per launch}} = 22 \text{ launches} \]

Step 4: Estimated Cost per Launch

Elon Musk has stated that the cost per Starship launch could be as low as $2 million in the long term. However, a more conservative estimate considering current technological and operational factors might be around $10 million per launch.

Step 5: Calculating Total Cost

Using the more conservative estimate of $10 million per launch:

\[ \text{Total cost} = \text{Number of launches} \times \text{Cost per launch} = 22 \times 10 \text{ million USD} = 220 \text{ million USD} \]

Additional Considerations

• **Assembly in Space**: The actual process of assembling a large, complex ship like a Sumner-Class Destroyer in space would require significant additional resources and infrastructure.

• **Material Efficiency**: The destroyer would not be built exactly as it would be on Earth due to different environmental constraints, which might reduce the overall weight.

• **Human and Robotic Labor**: The cost and logistics of human or robotic labor to assemble the ship in space would also add to the total project cost.

• **Engineering and Support Systems**: Development of specialized space-compatible systems and structures could further increase costs.

Conclusion

Assuming ideal conditions and no additional complexities, it would take approximately 22 launches of SpaceX's Starship to transport the equivalent weight of a Sumner-Class Destroyer to space. The estimated cost for these launches would be around $220 million. However, the overall project cost, including assembly and additional infrastructure, would be significantly higher.

(Compare this to the cost of building the International Space Station, and explain why this is such a game changer when it comes to developing a space-based civilization.)

Comparison to the International Space Station (ISS)

Cost and Launches of the ISS

1. **Cost**: The International Space Station (ISS) has an estimated total cost of around $150 billion over its lifetime. This includes development, construction, and ongoing operational expenses.

2. **Launches**: Constructing the ISS required more than 30 Space Shuttle missions and numerous launches from international partners (Russia, Europe, Japan).

Weight and Construction

• **Weight**: The ISS has a mass of about 420,000 kg (420 tons).

• **Launches**: Each Space Shuttle launch could carry a maximum payload of around 24,400 kg (24.4 tons), requiring multiple missions to assemble in space.

Comparison with Building a Sumner-Class Destroyer Using Starship

1. **Cost**:

   • **ISS**: $150 billion.

   • **Sumner-Class Destroyer** (in space using Starship): Approximately $220 million for launches, with additional costs for assembly and infrastructure likely bringing the total to several billion dollars.

2. **Launch Efficiency**:

   • **Space Shuttle**: Each launch had a limited payload capacity (24.4 tons) and a cost of about $450 million per launch.

   • **Starship**: Each launch can carry up to 100 tons at an estimated cost of $10 million per launch.

Game Changer for Space-Based Civilization

Cost Reduction

• **Lower Launch Costs**: The drastically reduced cost per kilogram to orbit (from ~$18,400/kg with the Space Shuttle to ~$100/kg with Starship) makes large-scale construction projects in space far more feasible and affordable.

Increased Payload Capacity

• **Higher Payload Capacity**: Starship’s capacity of 100 tons per launch compared to the Space Shuttle’s 24.4 tons means fewer launches are required for similar projects, reducing complexity and increasing efficiency.

Scalability

• **Massive Projects**: The ability to launch heavier and more substantial payloads opens up possibilities for constructing larger and more complex structures in space, including habitats, research stations, and industrial facilities.

Rapid Development

• **Frequent Launches**: With Starship’s potential for rapid turnaround and frequent launches, space projects can progress faster, reducing the time from concept to completion.

Impact on Space-Based Civilization

Infrastructure Development

• **Space Habitats**: Building space habitats and colonies becomes more practical and less costly, accelerating human settlement in space.

• **Space Industry**: Manufacturing and industrial activities in space could flourish due to reduced costs and increased material transport efficiency.

Scientific Advancement

• **Research Stations**: More affordable construction of research facilities in space could boost scientific discoveries and innovations.

• **Interplanetary Missions**: Lower costs and higher payload capacities enhance the feasibility of missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, paving the way for a multi-planetary civilization.

Conclusion

The dramatic reduction in launch costs and increased payload capacity provided by SpaceX's Starship represents a transformative shift in space development. It lowers financial barriers and logistical challenges, enabling more ambitious projects and rapid expansion into space. This transition from high-cost, low-frequency missions to affordable, frequent launches is a crucial step towards establishing a sustainable and thriving space-based civilization.

Considering the implications like this side by side REALLY REALLY shows that the Artemis Program is being WAY WAY WAY too conservative in what it wants to do. I know that some people say that there is no way we will have a million person city on Mars by 2050 but looking at it like this really puts things into perspective - I think it is totally possible.