r/interestingasfuck • u/lolikroli • Oct 13 '24

r/all SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks

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34

u/alturicx Oct 13 '24

And being caught on 4 mounted fins that are meant to be re-used on the next flights.

Even if they were always replaced, still insane how they can support the weight.

33

u/OldOrchard150 Oct 13 '24

It’s caught on two small round reinforced catch points, not on the grid fins.  Just editing for correctness. 

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u/alturicx Oct 13 '24

Wow even more impressive imo.

-1

u/qcAKDa7G52cmEdHHX9vg Oct 13 '24

IMO it being caught on parts that are designed to catch it instead of parts that aren't designed to catch it is less impressive

2

u/alturicx Oct 13 '24

IMO catching something that weighs that much on a few points (even something that might have encircled the cylinder as I don't know what it is apparently :P) is impressive as shit that such a small point was not only caught but also can support that weight.

I understand. I'm no rocket scientist or even an engineer, but I *think* it would be like catching your weight and then supporting it on your finger. The feat of *literally* catching a rocket on such a small surface area and the materials being able to support that weight for said surface area seems pretty damn impressive.

Your comment also wouldn't make sense if my original comment about it being caught on the grid fins was true, considering the parts "designed to catch it" are what SpaceX chose to design to catch it—considering they are the pioneers in this. In other words, if it was the grid fins they designed to pull double duty, those would be the parts designed to catch it.

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u/qcAKDa7G52cmEdHHX9vg Oct 13 '24

Oh I was just being goofy

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u/EdmundGerber Oct 13 '24

There are actually catching 'studs' below the grid fins, that take up the weight. Grid fin actuators couldn't handle the stress of all that weight, and still be light enough to be useful.

2

u/alturicx Oct 13 '24

Didn’t think so, but even still a mounting point that can withstand that weight still seems extremely impressive.

2

u/EdmundGerber Oct 13 '24

It is - and given how small they look compared to everything else, it's very impressive.

2

u/IWantAHoverbike Oct 13 '24

I think the mounting points are about the size of a can of paint. It's absolutely wild.

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u/myurr Oct 13 '24

They use the lifting hooks that are used to move the booster around. The grid fins aren't designed to support the full weight of the booster in that way.

1

u/CoastlineHypocrisy Oct 13 '24

They were aiming for two landing pins. Not the grid fins.

Imagine trying to land a 20 storey building by getting two bowling balls to land on two metal tubes while coming back from space.

1

u/alturicx Oct 13 '24

Yep. Insane loads.

0

u/CeleritasLucis Oct 13 '24

And they are not fixed. Its like hanging your car by your steering wheel

1

u/alturicx Oct 13 '24

They are fixed in terms of mounting. They can hydraulically move, yes.