Do you think Space Shuttle landing is equivalent because you like all the extra weight and complexity of a landing gear, or because you like having to build a giant runway?
There weren't too many runways available to use as backups given size requirements, so I assume if/when they start doing human starship launches they will have multiple chopstick towers and therefore have near-equivalent emergency backup capability.
> if/when they start doing human starship launches
I don't think this is happening with the current design. If there's a human version of Starship, it would have to have meet some safety standards. Namely abort options on launch and safe failure modes on return. I can see a Starship with a classic pod on top, but no way this design carries humans from/to earth.
Ah, TIL. But still, even private company (or their high paying customers) wouldn't want to take the risk. And using proven design for humans might be easier than to solve all safety issues with the whole Starship.
Also, they still have to solve non-starlink cargo deployment too I think?
Of course, being able to land on runways gave the Space Shuttle more choices for emergency landings than needing a chopsticks catcher.
That said, the Space Shuttle holds records for the most humans killed in spaceflight, and the most expensive cost per kilogram to LEO.
I don't think this is happening with the current design. If there's a human version of Starship, it would have to have meet some safety standards. Namely abort options on launch and safe failure modes on return. I can see a Starship with a classic pod on top, but no way this design carries humans from/to earth.