Image link from NSF forum.
Originally leaked on X (I think), then posted to the SpaceXLounge subreddit by u/mehelponow
this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
37 points (97.4% liked)
SpaceX
2700 readers
3 users here now
Rules:
- Posts and discussion must be related to SpaceX.
- Community focus is on the company, not its CEO.
- Currently experimenting with the moderation policy for niche communities. If you think you have been banned in error, please reach out.
Related space communities:
- !spaceflight@sh.itjust.works
- !rocketlab@lemmy.nz
- !curiosityrover@lemmy.world
- !perseverancerover@lemmy.world
- !esa@feddit.nl
- !nasa@lemmy.world
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !space@mander.xyz
Memes:
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Well that isn't fully and rapidly reusable. Goddamn. I was starting to feel better about booster reuse soon. Maybe that's still the case, but, man, what the hell is this.
Wasn't this flight the one where SpaceX intentionally removed a bunch of heat shield tiles?
Yes. Doesn't seem to working out if this picture is what OP claims. But if that's the case, I don't understand why they removed even more tiles on the Flight 7 ship.
I think this is all coming from the flap hinges. The hotspots on the leeward part are sparks from the sides. They fall that direction since the re-entry is applying some drag.
The intentionally missing tiles were just on the engine skirt section IIRC. So this isn't necessarily a problem with the main heat shield. The V2 flap design might mitigate it completely. We can't really say much from just one (alleged) image.
Edit: The IFT7 stream stated SN33 has missing tiles spread over the entire heat shield this time.
Edit2: Not going to see anything from IFT7 re-entry.