Only a blind person coldn't see, that the tiles based shield is well "fried" !!! In best case scenario they could push it to about 70% reentry success with mandatory required complete refurbishment of the entire shield after each reentry. People on board is 100% out of question with this mildly said POOR factor of safety design. The tiles based shield concept is 100% doomed, if the goals are rapid reusability and human rated vehicle.



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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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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. All comments and suggestions are most welcome ...
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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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