Much more refined fluid simulation of Starship reentry with liquid-vapor cooling. About 5 0000 000 fluid and solid cells and 8 hours CPU time. The shield temperature is acceptable, despite that it will still glow red. About 20kg/s methane without considering the methane phase transferer energy - 510 KJ/Kg.K. The simulation study does not allow that. If we consider the phase transferer energy, the total methane consumption will decrease significantly. As well the heat transfer efficiency in the shield can be further optimized. Considering about 20 minutes reentry cooling I can approximate that 20 tons of methane should be enough for a first /still risky/ reentry attempt. The necessary cooling power is approximately 3000 kW.



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Surface temperature plot of Starship /tile protection/ top and bottom part with very mild reentry conditions - only 5000m/s speed, AOA=70 degree and  atm. pressure only 10 Pascals. As it is seen the shield temperature well exceeds 3000K in about 40-50% of the surface.
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  After performing multiple flow reentry simulations with wide reentry conditions I have not other choice, but to conclude that using a tiles based shield is completely impossible. It would not be safe even for one reentry as the temperatures on the tiles surface of more than 50% of the shield area well exceeds 3000 K. At that point I am mildly said baffled, why this option was even considered. On the other hand I've proved without a doubt, that an internally cooled shield is the only viable solution. My simulations and calculations proved that 10kg/s to 15kg/s cooling methane would be enough to keep the shield temperature below 1400 K in the most heated areas. As well I've proved that expelling methane through holes in the shield is far worse than keeping the cold methane inside the shield "jacket" and expelling it through the upper part of the shield. With this information I will allow myself to make a prediction - If SpaceX does not scrap completely and fast this d...
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