Let a crazy idea, do not decide the haze! "
On the Spacex Spacex Bochex in Texas, the development of the StarShip-Super Heavy program continues. After the STARSHIP SN8 prototype, completed in the "fiery glory", the prototype with the sequence number SN9 has already been put on the test stand, and several cryogenic tests have already been carried out on it. In parallel with this, the assembly of the next prototypes of StarShip, as well as the first test prototype of Super Heavy, the first test prototype of Super Heavy is the first test prototype. And now the most interesting thing will happen around the prototype Super Heavy, since Ilon Mask expressed the idea that a somewhat crazy could see for many.
Just imagine what the future superheassed PH Super Heavy. It will be the 72-meter "Tower" of stainless steel, a diameter of 9 m, with ~ 28 Raptor engines (probably, in the end, the number of engines will still be somewhat less). And this is such a Mahine, with a taking up weight of 3,680,000 kg, at the final stage of landing, Ilon Mask suggested catching to optimize the process of preparing the re-start, removing from it component of the PH transport from the landing site again to the starting complex.
The procedure for planting a pH after performing its part of the mission to the withdrawal of the useful load on the orbit has already been worked out on the pH of Falcon 9. And this moment has been worked out so clearly that Falcon 9 sit down exactly in the "top ten", not only on the site on land, but also on the ship -Dron, swinging on the ocean waves. So there is no doubt that this process will also be virtuosically implemented and the SUPER HEAVY pH. Moreover, if you recall the flight SN8, more precisely, its final stage, then he also extremely descended to the specified platform. It can be stated that the accuracy of the return process is almost perfect, and exhausted not only on Falcon 9.
But one thing to plant Falcon 9, and then take it to a defective and check of all pH elements, another thing to "catch" the SUPER Heavy pH when returning on the starting complex. What does Ilon offer?
On December 30, Ilon wrote on Twitter: "We are going to try to catch a super heavy accelerator using a starting tower rod using lattice fins for receiving cargo."
That is, now instead of advanced supports, according to Falcon 9, at the final stage of the landing, the pH will have to enter a narrow corridor, where it will be caught by the capture mechanism, and the lattice aerodynamic seating stews will perform as a support. About the already spent accuracy of landing, I said above, so that there will be probably a special problem here. However, the question of the strength of the compounds of the titanium "fins" will rise, as they will have all the weight of the launch vehicle for a short time. And such strength requirements will be presented to the "Capture" mechanism. Spacex has not yet officially released the renders of future changes, and how the "Capture" mechanism on the engineering tower may look and work.
What makes this change, because it would seem that you can stay on the Falcon 9 landing scheme already confirmed? Ilon explained this by the fact that the refusal of the landing supports in the composition of the pH itself "saves the mass and cost, and also makes it possible to immediately rearrange the launch vehicle on the starting unit, preparing it to takeoff in less than an hour," and the philosophically added "legs, of course, fit, but the best part is not part, the best step is not a step. "
Also, Ilon said that the first tests of the Super Heavy prototype will take place "in a few months", but this year. Probably, at this point, the prototypes STARSHIP will have been sent several times to high-altitude test "jumping", and perhaps even on the susvorbital height.
The coming 2021 will be for all SPACEX projects (Starlink, and Starship-Super Heavy, and others) in the same breakthrough as for Tesla.
The Ilon method of trial and error, by applying non-standard solutions, goes to the task - creating a fleet of 1000 StarShip ships to start the colonization of Mars, and create self-sufficient cities on the red planet.