I made a short video showing the methane-cooled Starship reentry shield concept. The shield features an inverted bell-shaped geometry, which offers several critical advantages. This configuration is inherently aerodynamically stable, eliminating the need for aft-actuated flaps. Furthermore, the shape significantly enhances aerodynamic braking authority, increases the effective radiative surface area, and improves lift-to-drag ratio for gliding capability during descent. configurations. The active cooling system involves the injection of methane at a flow rate of approximately 5 kg/s, distributed uniformly across the base of the shield via a single longitudinal injector conduit running the length of the vehicle. If the outer shell of the shield is fabricated from HASTELLOY or a high-melting-point titanium alloy, the structure should be capable of withstanding hundreds—potentially thousands—of reentry cycles with minimal degradation. In my assessment, this represents the only v...
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Showing posts from July, 2025