ALEX
@ajtourville · 22. Sept. 2024
Starship belly flop maneuver is simply mind-blowing!
By belly-flopping, Starship increases its drag area by a factor of about 8, from ~70m² to ~545m², to significantly increase air resistance thus reducing its terminal velocity, which in turn reduces the fuel and peak
Elon Musk
@elonmusk
The main reason for coming in belly first is due to the subsonic orientation being a natural outcome of the center of mass and center of pressure being where they are needed for Starship to survive hypersonic heating by maintaining a ~70 degree angle of attack. Can’t come in engines first!
The high subsonic drag is helpful for lower terminal velocity, although the reduced propellant needed to slow down the ship is partially offset by the incremental propellant needed for the flip maneuver.
15:12 · 22. September 2024 · 125.000 Aufrufe
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