Thanks. I made a mistake in that comment, saying the lift/drag of the Shuttle was 1. The hypersonic L/D was 1, but during subsonic approach it was 4.5. In hinds

Thanks. I made a mistake in that comment, saying the lift/drag of the Shuttle was 1. The hypersonic L/D was 1, but during subsonic approach it was 4.5. In hindsight it kinda makes sense that wings do something. :) The maneuver is more noticeable with the new titanium grid fins (needed because the old aluminum ones caught fire from aerodynamic heating). Not only are they larger, but they use a "sawtooth" leading edge that increases control authority. New: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/879065552060260352 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/879065552060260352 Old: http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/4571-spacex_falcon_9_orbcomm_og2-michael_howard.jpg http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12... They also happen to be the largest titanium forgings in the world. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42544.340#msg1661163 https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42544.340#...