this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
36 points (97.4% liked)

SpaceX

1998 readers
44 users here now

A community for discussing SpaceX.

Related space communities:

Memes:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Image link from NSF forum.

Originally leaked on X (I think), then posted to the SpaceXLounge subreddit by u/mehelponow

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Morphit 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think this is all coming from the flap hinges. The hotspots on the leeward part are sparks from the sides. They fall that direction since the re-entry is applying some drag.

The intentionally missing tiles were just on the engine skirt section IIRC. So this isn't necessarily a problem with the main heat shield. The V2 flap design might mitigate it completely. We can't really say much from just one (alleged) image.

Edit: The IFT7 stream stated SN33 has missing tiles spread over the entire heat shield this time.

Edit2: Not going to see anything from IFT7 re-entry.