SpaceX (general discussion)
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SpaceX launch pad transforms tiny Texas neighborhood: "Where the hell do I go now?"
A launch site for SpaceX rockets is next to a tiny neighborhood east of Brownsville, Texas, called Boca Chica, where the rocket company has transformed life
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Elon Musk's upcoming Starship presentation to mark 12 months of rapid progress - NASASpaceFlight.com
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is set to provide a highly anticipated update on the company’s Starship program on September 28th from Boca Chica, Texas.
Dragon029
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The old Starship design had 5 aerodynamic devices (that I'm going to call flaps or fins; they act as both depending on whether you're in ascent or re-entry / descent).
You can see that it has 3 rear fins arranged symmetrically at the rear and 2 fins up near the nose. 4 of those 5 aerodynamic devices would have hinged for variable dihedral / anhedral, while 1 of the 3 rear fins was fixed and existed purely as a landing leg (with aerodynamic shaping for symmetry).
The new Starship design being assembled now is different in a few ways. We don't have any official artwork of it (the above renders of the old design were from SpaceX itself), so the renders below are just fan-art and speculation, although we do know the shape and size of the new rear and forward fins, and we know the shape and size of the centre fuselage:
The top two renders (with a blue background) shows a speculative but potential landing leg design, as well as the raceway / chine that goes between the forward and rear fins. The bottom image with the grey background shows potential positions for the forward fins (within the next 24 hours of this post we'll probably have a good idea of where the forward fins are going to be mounted).
Also note that the current vehicles being built are unmanned test vehicles; a manned version (like the one that's being used for the DearMoon mission) will likely have panoramic windows similar to the old design.
You can see that it has 3 rear fins arranged symmetrically at the rear and 2 fins up near the nose. 4 of those 5 aerodynamic devices would have hinged for variable dihedral / anhedral, while 1 of the 3 rear fins was fixed and existed purely as a landing leg (with aerodynamic shaping for symmetry).
The new Starship design being assembled now is different in a few ways. We don't have any official artwork of it (the above renders of the old design were from SpaceX itself), so the renders below are just fan-art and speculation, although we do know the shape and size of the new rear and forward fins, and we know the shape and size of the centre fuselage:
The top two renders (with a blue background) shows a speculative but potential landing leg design, as well as the raceway / chine that goes between the forward and rear fins. The bottom image with the grey background shows potential positions for the forward fins (within the next 24 hours of this post we'll probably have a good idea of where the forward fins are going to be mounted).
Also note that the current vehicles being built are unmanned test vehicles; a manned version (like the one that's being used for the DearMoon mission) will likely have panoramic windows similar to the old design.
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So it no longer lands on its three fins BUT on separate legs ? somewhat like a Falcon 9R. Having to support the entire landing weight probably badly influenced the fins design and internal structure, so they took the leg job out of them and made the legs a separated thing.
So much for Tintin rocket.
Main issue I can see is less stability... although he certainly added more legs to compensate.
And the canard are moving downwards / more to the rear. Canards on the nose are pretty rare, most combat aircraft prefers having them on the cockpit sides rather than on the radome. Looks like Starship is following the trend. Skylon is different, having such a loooooooooooong airframe.
Pretty amazing how the design still evolves as the demonstrators / prototypes are being build !!
So much for Tintin rocket.
Main issue I can see is less stability... although he certainly added more legs to compensate.
And the canard are moving downwards / more to the rear. Canards on the nose are pretty rare, most combat aircraft prefers having them on the cockpit sides rather than on the radome. Looks like Starship is following the trend. Skylon is different, having such a loooooooooooong airframe.
Pretty amazing how the design still evolves as the demonstrators / prototypes are being build !!
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Yeah like those Soviet V-2 derivatives, the R-1 and R-2. Minus the canards.
FighterJock
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Anyone know why SpaceX changed the design? It looks rather strange with those canards.
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I imagine we might find out in Elon’s presentation on the 28th September.
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