4 ms·
Differential thrust has been used to steer rockets for decades, and raptor has the sort of deep throttling capability required for it. Tilting is absolutely no
by timschmidt 2y ago
Differential thrust has been used to steer rockets for decades, and raptor has the sort of deep throttling capability required for it. Tilting is absolutely not required for anything but landing.
- m4rtink 2y agoYeah - you would still need roll-control, but given there are huge potato smashers already bolted on, it should not be an issue while in enough atmosphere. ;-)
- timschmidt 2y agoYup. In addition to the grid fins, there is the warm gas RCS which could perform roll control.
- literalAardvark 2y agoI'd like to suggest the idea that had they been able to operate it "well" without tilting, they wouldn't have added the mass for it. There's clearly a huge advantage somewhere.
- timschmidt 2y agoYeah, landing. As was mentioned. Not necessary for launch.