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Just now, cubinator said:

Seeing it fly back to the ground and land softly in such an adverse condition gives me confidence in the vehicle's reliability.

That's what I was thinking, imagine what it can do when you don't try and poke holes in it :wink:

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4 minutes ago, gfdgfherytrey said:

[snip] bring the [snip] ship back 

Anyone want to start a petition to find the wreck site, my other main interest is marine archeology :)

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Just now, Aviator01 said:

Given that the flight appeared to be a complete success, is it likely that the FAA will find any problems?

I think they'll find that the flap disintegrated, but probably nothing that would be a problem for continuing to launch test flights.

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Here's a replay of the reentry.

Just now, JoeSchmuckatelli said:

The enduring image of the flight for me is that burned through flap still actuating. 

Wowsers 

They must have hired somebody from Battlebots to build it.

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Posted (edited)

That was a trip. When the rainbow effect was apparent on the bare steel, like a cooking pot left on the stove, I was concerned.

When the sparks started flying and the rear-view camera showed the roots of the rear flap glowing, I was worried. When the steel of the forward flap began melting like it was shoved in the acetylene torch, I though that was it.

But it kept. Going.

That it made it through re-entry and splashdown makes this a very, very good day.

Edited by AckSed
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3 minutes ago, cubinator said:

Here's a replay of the reentry.

They must have hired somebody from Battlebots to build it.

Nice! 

Start watching abt 1:04:20.  Does it look like we can see the hexagonal outline of the tiles? 

Am I seeing things - or does anyone else see what I think I'm seeing? 

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  Good that both booster and ship managed to reach the surface albeit clearly in a damaged form. But I repeat my earlier complaints, the Raptor is nowhere near the reliability level needed for a reusable engine.

The Falcon 9 was spectacularly successful by first going for an expendable launcher. Then, progressing towards reusability. If SpaceX had taken that approach with the Starship, they would already be making operational launches, and making a profit on those launches. And it could be making single launch flights to both the Moon and Mars now. No refueling flights or even SLS required.

Also, by now both SpaceX and the FAA must acknowledged there is a problem with the Raptor reliability.

No mishap reports required my rear end!
 

 Robert  Clark

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Posted (edited)

Not quite sure what you are referring to, but there's a nice shot of what remains of the heat tiles along the edge of the flap at 01:05:52.

 

PS For context: replying to JoeSchmuckatelli

Edited by Piscator
PS
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Looks like that flap was only attached by the top at the end, and was loose. During the flip it rotated in a way it's definitely not supposed to, and was probably on the verge of falling off entirely.

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2 minutes ago, Exoscientist said:

problem

I think you might want to reflect on this. 

Maybe two out of all of the test article Raptors had issues - none of them catastrophic. 

Don't fall too in love with your thesis - it's okay to change your assumptions with more data 

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