Technology
SpaceX tests starship’s heat shield tiles
Follow @https://twitter.com/PCMag
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
Elon Musk is determined to get to Mars and return home, but in order for a spacecraft to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, it needs to be able to withstand the heat. Yesterday, SpaceX tested the heat shield tiles that allow the company’s Starship interplanetary spacecraft to do just that.
As Engadget reports, Musk explains in the Twitter thread that the temperatures endured by the heat shield tiles reached 1,650 degrees Kelvin (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit). The hexagonal shape also helps keep the heat from causing any damage, with Musk stating there’s “no straight path for hot gas to accelerate through the gaps.”
Musk also explained that “transpiration cooling” will be added to areas where erosion of the shield is found because “Starship needs to be ready to fly again immediately after landing.” This type of cooling allows for additional cooling to occur with the release of water and methane to act as cooling agents.
The test was a complete success and gets Musk one step closer to making the journey to Mars, something he sees happening in 2024 if everything goes to plan. There’s also the small task of safely transporting Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa around the Moon and back to Earth as part of a five-day journey in 2023.
This article originally published at PCMag
here
-
Business7 days ago
Bluesky launches Ozone, a tool that lets users create and run their own independent moderation services
-
Entertainment6 days ago
‘The Gutter’ review: The right kind of stupid
-
Entertainment7 days ago
What’s going on with Boeing planes? Safety concerns prompt flyers to change their flights.
-
Entertainment5 days ago
SpaceX’s Starship just had fantastic firsts for spaceflight
-
Entertainment7 days ago
‘Manipulated’ photo of Kate Middleton pulled by media agencies. Why?
-
Entertainment4 days ago
‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ review: A satirical near-miss
-
Business6 days ago
Paramount Global to sell stake in India’s Viacom18 to Reliance for over $500M
-
Business4 days ago
India drops plan to require approval for AI model launches