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#151 2025-09-10 10:48:30
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 8,797
Re: Multi-Ship Expeditions, Starboat & Starship, Other.
I regard Dr. Johnson as a genuine professional. So, I want to be shy about covering up his posts with my own much less validated opinions. But I want to comment, so this will be an indirect comment to: https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 38#p234238
I think that it is important to remember that unlike the Space Shuttle, there are no human passengers or crew on these ships. Therefore quality control does not have to be parinoid in level.
Here is an important quote from Dr. Johnsons post:
“We call it crunch wrap," Gerstenmaier said. "It's like a wrapping paper that goes around each tile, and then... these tiles are mechanically held in place. They're snapped in by a robot.” Using this "crunch wrap" material could seal the spaces between the tiles without using gap fillers.
So, here it seems likely to me that it will be possible to have a robot system in orbit that could inspect and patch a Starship heat shield, before any attempt to enter the atmopshere.
So, until humans begin to ride Starships though atmopshere, we have two things in our favor:
1) A heat sheild failure will not kill any people on board as they will not be on board.
2) It is likely that a Starship with need for repairs to its heat shield can be repaired before the attempt to enter the atmosphere.
This is a vast advantage, I feel. And allows for more risk taking.
And even after humans may ride through the atmosphere on a Starship the vast bulk of Starship flights to and from orbit will not involve humans on board.
Ending Pending 
Last edited by Void (2025-09-10 10:55:12)
Is it possible that the root of political science claims is to produce white collar jobs for people who paid for an education and do not want a real job?
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#152 Yesterday 08:25:35
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 8,797
Re: Multi-Ship Expeditions, Starboat & Starship, Other.
I will be very happy if the new SpaceX concept for heat shield tiles works out. No cooling fluids needed then, perhaps. Or maybe only special cases.
I think it is a bit like a V-Seal on a Bearing???
https://dicksonbearings.ie/dbdocument/2 … cument.pdf
I am not sure I understand, but I think if it is as I think it is, it may help a lot.
I also mention again that unlike the Shuttle Era, I think that if you are going to have Propellant Depots, and many space stations, it should be possible to have a repair setup which is robotic where heat shield repairs could occur.
This then reduces the chances where heat shield failures will destroy or damage a ship on re-entry to the atmosphere.
So, I think they likely have a good path to solving the heat shield problem.
Ending Pending
Last edited by Void (Yesterday 08:34:16)
Is it possible that the root of political science claims is to produce white collar jobs for people who paid for an education and do not want a real job?
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#153 Yesterday 18:50:24
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 8,797
Re: Multi-Ship Expeditions, Starboat & Starship, Other.
I think I see a possible future for Starship and Starlink, the subpart of SpaceX.
What I am speculating is that not only will they have specialized Starships that eject advanced devices into orbit, but they will probably want a ship that can repair and refurbish the units periodically. Perhaps a Starship with robotic systems on board. Perhaps also having some sort of electric rocket propulsion.
So, instead of dumping them into the atmosphere, they will just repair and refurbish, and refill. And perhaps also may convert the outdated ones into propellants that could be used in Magdrive or Neumann Drive.
Anyway, that occurred to me today.
Ending Pending
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