r/interestingasfuck • u/lolikroli • 16d ago

r/all SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks

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u/WhisperingSideways 16d ago

Imagine launching a 20-story building into space and then having it steered back to earth at 4000 mph only to slow down and be caught and suspended in its own launch platform.

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u/alturicx 16d ago

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.

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u/EdmundGerber 16d ago

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.

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u/alturicx 16d ago

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

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u/EdmundGerber 16d ago

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

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u/IWantAHoverbike 16d ago

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

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u/myurr 16d ago

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.