SpaceX Starship: The Real Path from One-Month Turnaround to Reuse Measured in Hours
by Brian Wang from NextBigFuture.com on (#7788M)
The hardest remaining barrier to rapid Starship reuse is no longer engines, tanks, or even catching the vehicle. It is the heat shield. Three specific problems still dominate: Mechanical loads during ascent (vibration combined with higher dynamic pressure) Coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch - stainless steel expands far more than the silica-based tiles Plasma intrusion ...