SpaceX Looks Ahead to Starship's Next-Generation Super Heavy Booster...

SpaceX

Just thought I'd share these photos and art renderings of the next iteration of SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy rocket. In the images directly above and below, a redesigned grid fin is shown that will be 50% larger and higher in strength than the fins that already embarked on nine previous Starship flight tests. The next Super Heavy booster will have three grid fins instead of four...providing better vehicle control while enabling the booster to descend at higher angles of attack towards the launch site after reentering Earth's atmosphere following spacecraft separation.

The last two images at the bottom of this blog entry show how the three fins will be arranged on the next Super Heavy booster. The fins will also be used for vehicle lift and catch, made possible by a new catch point addition and a lower positioning on Super Heavy to align with the tower catch arms at either Starbase or Cape Canaveral. Moving the fins lower on the booster reduces the heat that they will receive from Starship’s engines at hot-staging after main engine cutoff...and places the fin shaft, actuator and fixed structure inside the booster’s main fuel tank itself.

In regards to Starship's next journey to space, Integrated Flight Test 10 is scheduled for later this month.


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX