DLR Proposes RLV C5 Rocket With 74% Payload Ratio to Top SpaceX Starship
Updated
Updated · Boy Genius Report · Aug 22
DLR Proposes RLV C5 Rocket With 74% Payload Ratio to Top SpaceX Starship
1 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Aug 22
Summary
DLR’s May 2025 paper says its conceptual RLV C5 could deliver up to 74% of liftoff mass to low Earth orbit, versus about 40% for SpaceX’s Starship.
The design swaps Starship’s powered booster return for a winged SpaceLiner booster that would glide back and be caught mid-air, while using liquid hydrogen and oxygen instead of methane and oxygen.
DLR built its assessment from publicly available SpaceX telemetry captured from broadcasts, aiming to outline a more competitive European heavy-launch platform.
The concept still faces major hurdles: it remains unbuilt, would require new engines, heat-shielding and validated glide recovery, and could lag if SpaceX keeps iterating quickly.
Europe’s current launch sector is still catching up on reusability, with Ariane 6 expendable, Isar Aerospace yet to reach orbit, and MaiaSpace targeting a reusable test flight this year or next.