PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - SpaceX flight testing in South Texas
View Single Post
Old 14th August 2025 | 13:40
  #1148 (permalink)  
ORAC
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jul 2000
: Spotter
Posts: 24,662
Likes: 7,349
From: Peripatetic
The first grid fin for the next generation Super Heavy booster. The redesigned grid fins are 50% larger and higher strength, moving from four fins to three for vehicle control while enabling the booster to descend at higher angles of attack.

They’ll also be used for vehicle lift and catch, made possible by a new catch point addition and a lower positioning on the booster to align with the tower catch arms. Moving lower reduces the heat they receive from Starship’s engines at hot-staging and places the fin shaft, actuator, and fixed structure inside the booster’s main fuel tank.




​​​​​​​
ORAC is offline  
Reply