@DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy Indeed. Grid fin designs clearly work, but do they maximize payload? Good chance that they do not. Something with much more drag to reduce terminal velocity & so reduce landing propellant might have better performance. Not sure. Potential future optimization.
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy In the extreme extrapolation a space elevator - possibly feasible with current technologies - is obviously superior in terms of payload to orbit capacity. The question is, are there other feasible designs between Starship v0.1 and a space elevator? Very, very likely "yes". 😎
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy Could you angle adjacent pairs of grid fins toward each other to increase drag?
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy Put it in the unreal engine and see what happens.
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy Textured surface?
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy like the computer h/w getting cheaper and cheaper every day....will restricting size of startship/rocket really matter in future? pretty sure what looks humongous today will look comparatively small after 20 years w.r.t. sizes of rockets after 20 years.
@elonmusk @bluemoondance74 @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy Why don't you have the fins close off like the vents in a car do on decent?
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy TSLAQ is a huge drag
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy Improbability drive?
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy AntiGravity will help :) Or heavy sand bagging as long as its not parachutes.
@elonmusk @DavidNagySFgang @rocketry_catboy lots of balloons