Elon Musk Revealed Starship's Next Leap With Metal Shield Shocked Scientists...

[@AdvantestInc]

Incredible to see innovation pushing metallic heat shields into the spotlight. A game-changer for balancing durability and cost in future space missions.

[@alphatech4966]

That’s right! And I’m very happy with this!

[@dredwardchisnall1017]

I remember when the shuttle returned with heat shield problems. I knew intuitively interlocking ceramic tiles were the answer. The super heavy with super inert shielding, still using a hexagonal ‘tile’ system , should include an interlocking system, easy to incorporate in tile manufacture and fit.

[@alphatech4966]

But it seems that ceramic still does not meet SpaceX's wishes and expectations.

[@Makaneek5060]

One day Starship's hexagons will be more widespread than airplane wheels!

[@ryelor123]

Yesterday, I was thinking about the issue with the FAA following flight 4. I kind of feel sorry for them because flight 4 proved that flight 5 would work and thus there was almost certainly a very angry phone call or meeting between someone in the DOD and the head of the FAA. Since Starship wasn't a government contract, only the FAA had any idea of what was going on while the DOD probably thought Musk was just exaggerating or that technical limitations would prevent the booster and upper stage from doing a soft landing. Then flight 4 happened which jolted the DOD because they realized that it was the real deal and they had missed their opportunities to gain control over the project. That's why I think the FAA was delaying flight 5 as long as possible because the DOD wanted to become the main launch licensor so that they could start making demands regarding secrecy and design decisions. Unfortunately for the DOD, Musk either didn't get what was going on or was just acting like he didn't know and instead just hammered the FAA as much as possible and got everyone else to join in. For anyone who doesn't understand the DOD's philosophy on advanced technology, their main goal is to control it and not show off advanced capabilities unless they're in a competition with a foreign adversary. To the DOD, flight 4, 5, and all that came afterwards, were supposed to happen in secret and under their guidance.

[@alphatech4966]

A great point of you my friend I love it

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

It's always interesting with SpaceX, looking forward to the next flight!🚀🚀👍👍

[@alphatech4966]

Yeah! That’s right!

[@alphatech4966]

Starship go!!

[@alphatech4966]

Hope Flight 7 will come soon!

[@petemccalam5727]

"the culture" at Spacex is a good one because the wages and conditions are good! Pay YOUR employees an extra 15 - 20% feed 'em well and watch them shine!!

[@djohannsson8268]

Hopefully they can produce metallic heat tiles at a Starbase production facility. Then the replacement is just laser cutting the tiles to fit. Be even more impressive if they could 3d print them on site.

[@MrRich2u]

Am I missing something about Mars reentry? The atmosphere is far less dense than Earths. Wouldn't the friction be far less?

[@alphatech4966]

The atmosphere on Mars is of course thinner, but all trips to Mars must return to Earth one day, so upgrading the heat shield is indispensable.

[@ryelor123]

It also has a different chemical makeup

[@Zh_sos1]

Starship will reenter way differetly then hoe on earth it will maybe do many airbrakes and with the tip down

[@billsimpson604]

Mars can have planetwide dust storms. Who knows what hitting that might do. And it isn't friction which causes the heating. It is heat radiating from the shock wave caused by compression of the gas in front of the vehicle, which can't move out of the way fast enough. The heat hits the surface as infrared radiation, like the Sunlight hitting your face. And returning to Earth will be at high speed since Earth's gravity will be pulling on the ship for a long time in a vacuum.

[@XCX237]

Could the tiles for the shuttle have been 3D printed? Im saying was the technology available. That would have made a digital map of the entire surface needing thermal protection?

[@rays2506]

The only demonstrated replacement for the Space Shuttle tiles consists of thin columbium (aka niobium) metal panels (aka shingles) covered with a tightly adhering ceramic coating to prevent the metal from oxidizing and eventually experiencing burnthrough. These panels were tested to 2600F (1423C) successfully for 100 Shuttle EDL heating profiles (temperature and time). These panels require complex mechanical attachment hardware and some type of thermal insulation between the panel and the hull of the vehicle. SpaceX has a lot of experience with niobium since the nozzle for the Merlin vacuum engine is made of niobium. Side note: My lab spent three years (1969-71) developing and testing ceramic fiber tiles and coated columbium heat shield panels during the conceptual design period of the Space Shuttle project.

[@FiDelZarlar]

Wow!

[@alphatech4966]

Hi!

[@alphatech4966]

Good morning!

[@alphatech4966]

Have a nice day!

[@katrine-pearls]

If I am not mistaken when I am unwinding myself last nite. I've watched the launch of SPACEX~Falcon 9 lift-off fr Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying payload designated RRT-1. MY FASCINATION, and of course, I am in AWE😲 THANK U ✨️🎄🌟 NOTE: I wondered wht's the chemical components of the ceramic tiles used? I am guessing, it's more on a silicone carbine❓️ ~🤓pearls

[@alphatech4966]

Thanks for following SpaceX! We are all looking forward to the future.

[@katrine-pearls]

@alphatech4966 of course, as I am ur avid fan. Thank U for having MUAH❗️ ~kat 🤓 d-nurdy 😅

[@XCX237]

We need a star trek money less society to overcome costs.🤣

[@MicheleConroy-j5c]

Thanks for the forecast! I have a quick question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?

[@PeteCasey-i4m]

If Trump is elected... How the heck do you post a piece that has such old and dated content and recent info (metal shields) blended??? 2Stars

[@Flamingben]

Would have so much more respect for Tesla and Space X if Elon had nothing to do with them. Shame..!

[@dgmcfadden2006]

I’m sure Elon is broken up about your lack of respect for all things world changing.

[@Flamingben]

I really don’t care what any billionaire thinks. Only what they taste like…