So gimbal instead of timing? Pull away and gimbal in one direction, impacting one side of the dome preferentially, I like that better.
A combination of • Rvac and SL Raptor ignition sequence,• a change to a rounded top to the interstage dome, and • the absence of one of the grid fins
Quote from: meekGee on 09/22/2025 04:44 amSo gimbal instead of timing? Pull away and gimbal in one direction, impacting one side of the dome preferentially, I like that better.Remember, catdlr mentioned 3 changes for V3 to control the initial flip at staging:Quote from: catdlrA combination of • Rvac and SL Raptor ignition sequence,• a change to a rounded top to the interstage dome, and • the absence of one of the grid finsI suspect the last 2 will have more of of an effect than the first.
Does anyone know if the LOX tank icing issues have a neat solution in V3? Or are they still going to use a range of filters and screens to prevent 2 different types of ice - one floating and one sinking - from blocking up the LOX inlets?
New design Starship V3 QD visible at Starbase Massey's test site today. 11/6/25
QuoteNew design Starship V3 QD visible at Starbase Massey's test site today. 11/6/25https://x.com/StarshipGazer/status/1986634915404759316
Quote from: TheRadicalModerate on 03/15/2025 08:14 pmFor some reason, we don't have androgynous QDs. We'll see if they magically appear.The thing you're forgetting about iterative design is that it's "long pole first."Androgynous QD isn't the long pole, so it's not a priority to get it in the "final state" right now. Androgyny is a quick modification, so the bigger priority up until now has been the harder parts of the [Starship] design.
For some reason, we don't have androgynous QDs. We'll see if they magically appear.
Niall-Ian Anderson@INiallAnderson·Some of you may have noticed the asymmetry of the forward dome shielding and its likely here that the sea level engines on ship will be gimballed inwards on the belly side (RED) more than previous to assist in the booster flip with the outer engine remaining gimballed all the way as to excerpt the least amount of energy on the boosters rotation! 🚀
Niall-Ian Anderson@INiallAndersonRGV was able to get some awesome top down views of B18's Fwd Dome Shielding so I have refined my previous illustration to depict the angle at which I suspect the sea level engines will be gimballed during hot staging to initiate the boosters flip for boost back.
ChromeKiwi@AshleyKillipThanks to @RGVaerialphotos we got a great view of the heat map that i have enhanced on top of booster 18. Now that the integrated hot stage system stays with the booster there is no protection so targeted reinforcements have been added to cover areas of the dome that see the most thermal stress before and during staging as the new V3 raptor will be exerting more heat and force at startup than its v2 predecessor. Orange appears to be a general coverage and the red is targeted plates under each engine vac and sea level.
https://x.com/AshleyKillip/status/1992818108005057007QuoteChromeKiwi@AshleyKillipThanks to @RGVaerialphotos we got a great view of the heat map that i have enhanced on top of booster 18. Now that the integrated hot stage system stays with the booster there is no protection so targeted reinforcements have been added to cover areas of the dome that see the most thermal stress before and during staging as the new V3 raptor will be exerting more heat and force at startup than its v2 predecessor. Orange appears to be a general coverage and the red is targeted plates under each engine vac and sea level.
Why Rvac shields also offset? Rvacs don't gimbal...
SpaceFanatic@MGSpaceFanaticThe interior of the Superheavy V3, missing a few filters and reinforcements.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 09/12/2025 02:16 pm...Raptor 3: for sure, they need 39 good engines prior to IFT-12 just to build the Booster and Ship. Maybe they need to have built eleven more to account for planned and unplanned tests to destruction. After that, maybe 39 more for IFT-13. If they succeed with the catches, they then need six more for each additional flight. So a build rate of one a week is not enough, but a build rate of one a day is probably adequate for 2026. I would really like to see a nice picture of Raptor 3 100 at Starbase by Halloween.2 boosters = 66 engines5 Starships = 36 enginestotal = 102 engines..
...Raptor 3: for sure, they need 39 good engines prior to IFT-12 just to build the Booster and Ship. Maybe they need to have built eleven more to account for planned and unplanned tests to destruction. After that, maybe 39 more for IFT-13. If they succeed with the catches, they then need six more for each additional flight. So a build rate of one a week is not enough, but a build rate of one a day is probably adequate for 2026. I would really like to see a nice picture of Raptor 3 100 at Starbase by Halloween.
Do we know for sure that Super Heavy V3 still has 33 engines, not e.g. 36?
Quote from: PM3 on 01/07/2026 12:41 pmDo we know for sure that Super Heavy V3 still has 33 engines, not e.g. 36?In May 2025 presentation both v3 and v4 were 33 engines (inevitability of 42 engines on v4 discussed/joked)
