Comments on: Someone is apparently considering putting a helicopter on Starship when it goes to Mars https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:33:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624549 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:33:10 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624549 I need those shoes more than you do…

To Patrick U

“Suspect he’s on a different wavelength than my own!”

You don’t want in my head.
John Malkovich couldn’t withstand it.

]]> By: Dick Eagleson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624533 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:40:41 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624533 Jeff Wright,

Upon further digging, I find Jeff Greason was at Rotary Rocket for at least awhile. Gary Hudson was the CEO and co-founder and a guy named Bevin McKinney was CTO and had the idea for the rotor. Greason was apparently a propulsion engineer there. I couldn’t find out if he was involved in the rotor-tip engines or the fixed engines on the base of the craft or both.

In any case, you have provided me a pair of orthopedic shoes and I stand corrected.

]]> By: agimarc https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624529 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:44:08 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624529 Nice to think SpaceX thinking in terms of hundreds of tons payload of per lander. Figure out how to use the lander on site after unloading and you will have something fun. Regardless, in space terms, this massive and a real improvement.

One of the things I played around with long ago was order of magnitude tonnage moved around the US in various modes of shipping. Most of us don’t realize the sheer mass of stuff being moved from here to there on a daily basis.

For example, there are roughly 1.6 rail cars in service in the US today. Average fully loaded payload runs 70 – 115 tons.

There are around 5.6 million over the road trailers in service today. Average payload runs around 20 tons, though the legal limit is twice that.

Either way, it is nice to finally be thinking about tonnages moved from here to there in space. Cheers –

]]> By: Patrick Underwood https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624528 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:43:27 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624528 Yep Jeff G was part of the ROTON prop team.

Always takes me a while, when I bother, to parse Jeff Wright’s statements. Suspect he’s on a different wavelength than my own!

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624526 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:31:13 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624526 PS I thought he did play a role in that

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624525 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:30:21 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624525 It was a ROTON joke….never mind

]]> By: Dick Eagleson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624514 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:39:56 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624514 Jeff Wright,

Why would Jeff Greason comment? He was never involved with rotorcraft. I think you’ve got him confused with Gary Hudson of the late Rotary Rocket Company.

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624501 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 02:11:12 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624501 Jeff Greason was unavailable for comment

]]> By: Patrick Underwood https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624498 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:07:05 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624498 Richard M, thanks for your reply on YT!

Phillip has taken a dislike to me for some reason. :)

https://youtu.be/E3JIO9blTfg?si=8i8ZUZDks_509eyS

]]> By: Richard M https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624490 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:45:18 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624490 Wow. I hope this happens.

]]> By: Ray Van Dune https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/someone-is-apparently-considering-putting-a-helicopter-on-starship-when-it-goes-to-mars/#comment-1624488 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:54:10 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=118602#comment-1624488 A CH-47 Chinook would fit nicely, no? Some supplemental LOX required.

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