On Wed, May 22, 2019 at 10:56 AM Jonathan Goff <jongoff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Craig,
I know what their eventual goals are with Starship. I was just curious
what they had explicitly said about the prototype under construction. I'm
kind of doubting that they're far enough along to really do a full reentry
vehicle with aerocontrol systems, the metallic/transpiration cooled TPS,
etc. I could be wrong, but I was wondering if there were actual SpaceX
statements saying that this very prototype is meant to be orbital, or if
you were just extrapolating and assuming that since that's their end goal,
that this prototype is the one that will get there.
~Jon
On Wed, May 22, 2019 at 10:56 AM Craig Fink <webegood@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Jonathan,
The prototype isn't about hopping or landing as much as it is about
Entry. A paradigm shift in what a "heat shield" is. Moving away from
disposable ablatives and dedicated (extra mass) heat shields to an
integrated system where the physical tank is the heat shield. Active
Cooling of the heat shield will be the new normal at some point in the
future, using a little propellant mass as the ablative so to speak.
On Wed, May 22, 2019 at 8:50 AM Jonathan Goff <jongoff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Craig,
Do we actually know if this prototype is an SSTO-capable RLV with all
the fixings, as opposed to an early test prototype like the other hoppers?
Has SpaceX officially said that, or is that just speculation?
~Jon
On Wed, May 22, 2019 at 9:47 AM Craig Fink <webegood@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Looks like we are close to seeing the first Single Stage to Orbit
launch. As a bonus, this launch should be a fully reusable vehicle, capable
of Entry and Landing. Plus, this accomplishment will be just a step on the
path to his new launch vehicle, as the SSTO is SpaceX's research version of
Starship's second stage.
https://youtu.be/6IydYEBrk0E?t=413
CloudLicker on Youtube seems to do a good job aggregating SpaceX News
so you don't have to.
Following SpaceX today is what following NASA was like in the 1960s.
All Doing, less Talk. Exciting times ahead.
--
Craig Fink
WeBeGood@xxxxxxxxx
--
Craig Fink
WeBeGood@xxxxxxxxx
