News Changes to the SpaceX BFR rocket.

GLS said:
They should have just targeted the booster to 200m above the pad, and then let gravity do its thing.
Click to expand...
Kinda wonder what would have happened if they had just launched without the deluge. Oh wait!
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1978179844656480423

Looks like both the LOX and CH4 tanks had burn-through. Might depend on when/where it happened but honestly didn't think it would make it if that happened. Visually still seemed like there was ablative in those places, may have just discovered there's not enough of it. Also some burning from holes in the payload section, possibly a return of the GCH4 autogen leak?
 
diogom said:
Looks like both the LOX and CH4 tanks had burn-through. Might depend on when/where it happened but honestly didn't think it would make it if that happened. Visually still seemed like there was ablative in those places, may have just discovered there's not enough of it. Also some burning from holes in the payload section, possibly a return of the GCH4 autogen leak?
Click to expand...
There is a flame near the nose, so something is leaking in there... in addition to what looks like massive holes further down. There was 1 (or 2?) big flashes during entry, which could be the burn-thru happening.

So the vehicle* can survive entry with tiles missing, holes in the tanks, and melted flaps... but how does that help with the targeted "rapid reusability"? Can they really fix a vehicle with a hole in the tank? In addition, if the vehicle has a damaged TPS, they risk having it go kaput during landing and damaging the tower/pad... letting it burn up over the ocean seems a better alternative.

*) who knows what's happening inside, besides than molten metal flying around.
 
The flame seems to be gone after landing, so it might be a damaged return/pressurization line. Yes, GCH4 autogen leak seems likely there.
 
I'm not sure what people are seeing as tank burn-through and fire on the forward portion of the Starship. I'm seeing venting gases, but no fire. I do see the flames from the aft skirt, but that's probably a busted line. A tank burn through would cause major loss of pressure and it certainly wouldn't be making a landing if that happened.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1978905901344907726
https://twitter.com/x/status/1978828673739374965
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GLS said:
Probably the last visuals of this we'll see in a while

https://twitter.com/x/status/1978555639115715005
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1979261047182635135
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1979271919850618919
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1979285350167253058
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The imagery coming from these missions is just amazing. We have cameras through all phases of orbital flight now. I remember when reentry plasma blackout was a thing and video cameras were too cumbersome to use during reentry.
 
So they have this precarious pile of wreckage a couple hundred feet tall just sitting there. Rigging that down in a safe manner is going to be a challenge.
 
I guess that Bill Kerman was in charge of that test. :D
 
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