3 ms·
It was such a cool idea, but I imagine it was going to be very hard to make it work.
by mabbo 7y ago
It was such a cool idea, but I imagine it was going to be very hard to make it work.
- superkuh 7y agoReusable heat shielding tiles are also very hard.
- lukebuehler 7y agoCould it be easier compared to other rockets/shuttle since the space ship is made out of steel?
- nickik 7y agoIt makes it a bit easier because as Elon mentioned the steel structure can get much hotter without it being an issue. This makes it easier to connect the tiles directly to the ship. However still the primary problem is still to have some surface that can handle the heat without deterioration over multiple flights.
- geuis 7y agoExactly. Say you land on the Moon and your ship sticks around for a few months. Micrometeorites can impact and cause minor damage to the surface cooling system. You’re baked at that point. But given the hull is stainless steel repairs are much easier. Any experienced welder can spot repair divots and holes or weld in much larger patches. No need to worry about the specially constructed parts required for evaporative cooling. Fix the hull then install replacement tiles.