Chapter
Maximizing Efficiency of Starship Landing
2:23:07 - 2:26:55 (03:48)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk discusses the optimal landing technique for Starship that involves flipping around 500 meters above the ground to minimize Delta V and prevent gravity drag.
Clips
The ultimate goal for the Starship is to have one that goes to Mars, lands, and takes off again to land back on Earth to be reused.
2:23:07 - 2:23:53 (00:46)
Summary
The ultimate goal for the Starship is to have one that goes to Mars, lands, and takes off again to land back on Earth to be reused. For a more efficient option, a dedicated vehicle for Mars can be used as it's easier to do a single-stage orbit, and it doesn't need all the landing legs, heat shields, and other equipment needed for Earth landings.
ChapterMaximizing Efficiency of Starship Landing
Episode#356 – Tim Dodd: SpaceX, Starship, Rocket Engines, and Future of Space Travel
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In a recent tweet, Elon Musk revealed that the difference in Delta V between Starship doing a flip at 500 meters versus 2000 meters is 500 meters per second.
2:23:53 - 2:25:28 (01:34)
Summary
In a recent tweet, Elon Musk revealed that the difference in Delta V between Starship doing a flip at 500 meters versus 2000 meters is 500 meters per second. He also hinted that Starship might become a horizontal runway ship, with no one-size-fits-all format.
ChapterMaximizing Efficiency of Starship Landing
Episode#356 – Tim Dodd: SpaceX, Starship, Rocket Engines, and Future of Space Travel
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The longer a rocket's engine runs, the more Earth's gravity steals its acceleration due to diminishing returns and high thrust weight ratios.
2:25:28 - 2:26:55 (01:27)
Summary
The longer a rocket's engine runs, the more Earth's gravity steals its acceleration due to diminishing returns and high thrust weight ratios. Ideal rocket launches involve lighting all engines to maximum thrust and pulling as many G's as possible to land on a dime, but this is not always feasible.