CatastrophicFailure

Got a new toy. Puppy approves. …sort of.

“Solved” wrt to Starship and its reuse is the context here. SpaceX will be getting plenty of data from a similar atmospheric regime (hypersonic/translunar speeds in the upper atmosphere), enough to extrapolate to Mars, so it’s not reinventing the wheel, either. We’ve already seen from some of their earliest BFR renders that they already have some idea, carbon-Starship is shown flying a Mars entry inverted at times, using aerodynamic lift to actually hold itself down in the atmosphere. So, it’s an extension and further optimization of work they’re already doing. Dunning-Kruger…

I would say no, not at all. Once Earth EDL is solved, which they are very near to now, and which is necessary for both Earth and lunar operations, extending that to Mars EDL will be a relatively simple problem. Long before they ever start bending metal for such a mission, they will already have LOADS of data on how Starship handles during a similar entry regime. And now that no mishap report is (likely to be) required for IFT-4, I think we’re going to see the pace of development rapid ramp up, then again after the first successful catch, then again after the first reuse. Just like HLS, a Mars sample return is a natural and “easy” extension of stuff they’re doing anyway.

Fwiw I’ve had Starlink for a couple years now, still waiting on that reliable 3G cell tower, let alone 5G… Also outta likes so… Only 1.5G? That is very gentle for a reentry! (Looking at you, Hubble.)

Because it’s really and truly flying. Also keep in mind this descent would otherwise be much steeper, it’s only 3/4 of an orbit with perigee below the surface somewhere around Hawaii. On a “normal” trajectory that pe would still be above the surface, so this crazy reentry may be even more punishing than “usual.” Of all the posts to run out of likes on…

Welp… seems this adage stubbornly clings to truth… kinda like that fin… holey— Our brains are all still locked to meters per second, not kilometers per hour. The mental translation takes a minute.

Is there a translation somewhere?

“Still Reading the Instructions.”

Missed a golden opportunity here to call it New Evergiven, New Billy O’Tea, New Istanbul-Not-Constantinople, anything better.

Seems to have been a Starlink.

I’ve found that to make it work, you have to copy the link from the little “copy link” icon, then paste it into a browser tab, then copy that link from the status bar and paste it here. You have to wait for it to pop up in the forum window before hitting “submit” too.

Are they perhaps vertically challenged and six in number with oddly descriptive names?

You’re a regular Didney princess.