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19 minutes ago, tater said:

GZXyAqmXIAQVL5o?format=jpg&name=large

I was thinking that this might be a way to simplify construction, but if those struts, just next to the corners, are where the support arms are supposed to be put in, they would have less parts overall, but the shapes are going to be weird, compared to the old one.  Of course, they could just be using the square as the bottom, then slapping a shorter version of OLM-1's table.

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GZX6DBHWgAAhzhD?format=jpg&name=4096x409

Ship 34 nose. Thinner, leeward flaps. Tiles over that nose vent in the middle. Interesting solution on the Starlink dispenser to bridge the compressive load during flight (?).

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28 minutes ago, tater said:

GZXyAqmXIAQVL5o?format=jpg&name=large

Huh.

Ok, so we have a NOTAM for SS30 but so far crickets from the FAA on B12?  Maybe they will repeat IFT-4’s booster return to sea or maybe they will try a catch.  SpaceX site clearly states they will try a catch.  But until the FAA backs that up I’m not so sure yet.  I hope they do, but would be happy to see another launch and more data either way.  

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43 minutes ago, AckSed said:

Circle is over, square is my new friend now.

But seriously, how does that work?

I’m guessing maybe there will be a circle in that square and by starting with the square it will make positioning curved parts far simpler during construction.  The protruding corners could also provide space for mounting various things during maintenance and maybe make alignment of the booster quicker.   

Maybe raised extensions of the deluge on the corners that kick on as the engines clear the mount?

 It will be great to find out what the heck is going on

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GZZQqaUWoAACfrL?format=png&name=small

The previous statement had the Novemeber date in there, since expunged.

51 minutes ago, AckSed said:

But seriously, how does that work?

Spoiler

 

 

Edited by tater
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15 hours ago, StrandedonEarth said:

F9 started with a square engine block, later changed to round. Meanwhile, Stage Zero started with a round table, with the next version at least starting with a square. The wheel of ka keeps turning…

Yes they gone back to an more standard launch mount. Still nontraditional as they lift the rocket onto the stand rather than drive it. But mechanisms is better protected by all the concrete also from an failed catch. 
 

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I may have drank the kool-aid on this one. I excitedly shared this number with people without really considering what it would mean. Unless they rolled a nat 20 or are doing stuff 17 levels above everyone else, half of a centimeter seems really small.

TheSpaceEngineer (@mcrs987) on X

That's 0.5cm next to the catch point (not my image).

Firstly, it is really hard to get something that accurate, obviously. Then there's wind. Wind gusting seems like it would be enough to make this kind of accuracy impossible on a consistent basis.

And then there's like, how are you even measuring distances to such accuracy? The general consensus among other people is that Super Heavy uses local guidance for terminal descent (unlike Falcon which uses GPS I believe), and that the guidance hardware was on buoys for this flight.

Buoys bob up and down in the ocean, they move around... I am really confused as to how this number could be accurate.

If they can reliably get this precise, then just go back to landing on the launch mount. Accuracy was most of the reason for the catch in the first place I think.

Other people have floated the idea that he misspoke and meant 0.5 meters.

TheSpaceEngineer (@mcrs987) on X

That's 0.5m next to the catch point for reference.

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6 hours ago, Ultimate Steve said:

Firstly, it is really hard to get something that accurate, obviously.

Why not ? They are using some kind of control loop. If the control force is working at all and there is not too much oscillation, you get very high precision. These either fail miserable or hit the nail.

6 hours ago, Ultimate Steve said:

And then there's like, how are you even measuring distances to such accuracy? The general consensus among other people is that Super Heavy uses local guidance for terminal descent (unlike Falcon which uses GPS I believe), and that the guidance hardware was on buoys for this flight.

Buoys bob up and down in the ocean, they move around... I am really confused as to how this number could be accurate.

This sounds like a academic discussion. Probably they report the difference of above control loop coordinates, so it is the difference between the desired location and internal determed location. Maybe the buoys for the water landing did not provide mm precise real world coordinates (as they moved), the one near landing tower will.

6 hours ago, Ultimate Steve said:

If they can reliably get this precise, then just go back to landing on the launch mount. Accuracy was most of the reason for the catch in the first place I think.

Probably more that the empty SH can handle tension way better than compression. And a rocket standing is meta stable, while hanging is stable.

Edited by CBase
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