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 doomed tiles based shield experiment, this could be the end of the entire Starship project.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog