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Note that the Space Shuttle only needs a heat shield because it's returning from orbital velocity. The Falcon 9 first stage is suborbital.
by aninhumer 10y ago
Note that the Space Shuttle only needs a heat shield because it's returning from orbital velocity. The Falcon 9 first stage is suborbital.
- timdiggerm 10y agoOh yeah, that's a very good point.
- kirrent 10y agoEven at the far slower speed the first stage would still be damaged from re-entry. That's why they do a re-entry burn to slow the stage down before the atmosphere gets too dense. There's apparently also some interesting physics on the engine firing dissipating the bow shock which helps keep temperatures down.