3 ms·
How will the flaps handle the heat from re-entry speeds? Especially from the Moon or Mars. Those crevices between the flaps, seems like great places for the at
by blackrock 6y ago
How will the flaps handle the heat from re-entry speeds? Especially from the Moon or Mars.
Those crevices between the flaps, seems like great places for the atmospheric re-entry heat to punch through and destroy the Starship.
I would assume that during the initial re-entrant speed, the flaps would be locked, to minimize errant heat from entering the inner mechanisms. Then after it’s bled off most of its speed, at the last few kilometers off the ground, would the flaps begin to actuate and adjust to the air speed of terminal velocity.
I wonder if atmospheric re-entry is the bigger test, should they succeed with SN9.
- grecy 6y agoThey're working on heat tiles and how to attach them now - and I agree, somewhere around SN12 (my guess) we're going to start seeing tests of the heat tiles and more energetic reentries.