[terminalshort]

SpaceX has already successfully landed and reused a booster, which is the most expensive part of the rocket. As for the reentry problem, that seems to have been solved in the last couple of test flights. Still much more economically viable than SLS even if they can't reuse the upper stage.

[HippyTed]

As someone who is a tad skeptical of SpaceX duevto their side claims, I have to give it to them, that last launch of Starship proved they are making some real progress again. Wasnt looking good at the start of the year but now their re-entries are doing fairly well.

[foxyv]

I agree, they are doing a great job with Starship so far. I think they were overly optimistic at first (Typical Engineering Management Thing), but their Raptor engines alone are a huge advancement. The rest of Starship is coming together great.

They have set a hard goal, but they definitely have the expertise to make it work. I look forward to seeing the first orbital re-fueling.

[foxyv]

Booster re-usability is only the first half of the problem. It's the second stage re-usability that makes Starship viable despite its massive second stage. The re-entry heating is trashing their second stages which would make the killer feature of Starship, fast turnaround, impractical.

Also, as far as I can tell from their last test video, they are still shredding their Flaperons at the joint.

[m4rtink]

I don't think there were any visible burn throughs this way around at the flaps.

[terminalshort]

Who cares? Even if they never solve the flap issue, the cost of bolting on new flaps every flight is minimal.

[foxyv]

That's like bolting new wings on a 777 after every flight. It's going to cost a LOT and you won't be able to just load up fuel/passengers and take off again.

I'm sure SpaceX will eventually fix the problem. They are well funded, the materials exist, and they have amazing engineers. They just haven't reached that point yet.

[terminalshort]

When the current industry standard is that the whole 777 is replaced every flight, that's one hell of an improvement.

[foxyv]

That isn't the industry standard anymore thanks to SpaceX. Starship isn't competing with Saturn 9 and the Space Shuttle, it is competing with Falcon Heavy. If the second stage cannot be re-used then you may as well launch a much cheaper second stage that isn't rated for re-entry like Dragon.

[postingawayonhn]

'Cost a LOT' is relative though.

Expensive compared to a 777 flight? Sure. Expensive compared to every other moon capable rocket? No.

[foxyv]

But is it going to be cheaper than Falcon Heavy?