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The official name of the steel ring used by SpaceX to facilitate separation of Starship from the booster at launch is called the "hot stage ring".
Explanation: This ring is designed to allow for a "hot staging" separation method, where the Starship engines ignite while still partially attached to the booster, which is still firing some of its engines at a reduced thrust.
Key points about the hot stage ring:
Function: It acts as a heat shield to protect the booster from the exhaust of the Starship engines during hot staging.
Material: Typically made of stainless steel.
Recent developments: SpaceX has been seen jettisoning the hot stage ring after use in recent Starship launches.
SpaceX recovered the Hot Staging Ring after the most recent launch.
Thanks to Oldfart1939 we have a link to a video showing recovery of the ring (at about second #26)
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 48#p227448
The purpose of this topic is to follow developments with this critical component of the launch.
GW Johnson has offered the prediction that damage to the ring will preclude it's re-use.
My prediction is that SpaceX will attempt to re-use the ring. It is a costly piece of equipment, and my understanding is that the goal for Starship is to expend only propellant, so everything must be re-used.
(th)
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This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members over time.
(th)
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I asked Google for any available details about the Hot Staging Rings...
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According to available information, the SpaceX Starship's hot staging ring is roughly 9 meters (30 feet) in diameter, around 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall, and is estimated to weigh approximately 1.6 tons (3,600 pounds) based on its construction from stainless steel rings with a thickness of 3.97mm (0.156 inches).
Key points about the hot staging ring:
Diameter: 9 meters (30 feet)
Height: Approximately 1.8 meters (6 feet)
Material: Stainless steel
Function: Protects the booster from extreme heat and forces generated by the upper stage engines firing while still attached during "hot stag
(th)
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A quick review of some of the many comments generated by video about the ring recovery showed some interesting snippets...
One was an observation that the ring had to be jettisoned because it threw off the balance of the stage too much for the test of the chopstick landing.
Another prediction was that the ring would be integrated into the booster.
Based upon GW Johnson's prediction that damage to the ring would be extensive, I think it will be a challenge for SpaceX engineers to re-use that component, but I expect they will ** really ** try, because the goal is to operate this space launch service like an airline, and no airline on Earth discards expensive equipment after every takeoff.
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Spacecraft are not airplanes. Space is far harder than flying. You have to do both "right", but that "right" is quite unlikely to be exactly the same.
GW
GW Johnson
McGregor, Texas
"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew, especially one dead from a bad management decision"
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This topic is available for NewMars members to report on developments in this small but important detail of human space flight.
As an observation, and not to influence our creative thinkers in any way, but I note that a water deluge solves the problem of erosion of concrete under a Starship Booster.
It is possible (remote I realize) to use a water deluge of some kind to protect the Hot Stage Ring so it can be left in place atop the booster, and flown back to the chopsticks landing.
It's something to watch for, in any case.
Another possibility is improvements in materials science.
We have seen (as reported by GW Johnson in particular) that material will erode when subjected to the force of a Starship booster, or even a lesser rocket.
However, the duration of exposure of materials under a Starship at stage separation is not as long as the comparable exposure at booster launch.
Perhaps there are materials that can survive the Starship separation.
I'll bet there are team members at SpaceX investigating that possibility.
In short, there ** should ** be posts in this topic, as NewMars members spot news in the feeds, or see something on TV, or read something in print publications.
A few of those still exist.
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The jet from one Raptor engine hits the hot staging ring dead-on at a speed of multiple km/s (somewhere around 3.5). All 6 "Starship" Raptors were used for hot staging.
Each such plume shocks against the hot staging ring surface, with a stagnation point effective temperature pretty much equal to the chamber temperature, which is in turn pretty close to 5500-6000 F. Even if any kind of steel, this ring material is a white hot molten puddle at a material temperature of only 2900 F. How long do you think it can withstand such treatment? A second? Two? Not much more.
Why would ANYONE be surprised that there is severe engine plume erosion damage on this hot staging ring structure? Even with greatly-divergent plume streamline distribution at staging altitude (nearly 90 deg off axis)? The bulk of the mass flow is still more-or-less axially-directed.
The hot staging ring is simply and quite fundamentally a sacrificial part, just like an ablative heat shield. As I have said before, space flight is far more difficult than atmospheric flight. The technology solutions are just NOT going to be similar! To expect otherwise is both naive, and just plain wrong. The experiences of 7 decades in space flights proves that beyond any shadow of a doubt.
GW
Last edited by GW Johnson (2024-10-28 16:27:02)
GW Johnson
McGregor, Texas
"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew, especially one dead from a bad management decision"
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