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Starship V3: Fewer, Bigger Fins for Landing
22 May
Summary
- Starship V3 features three larger, stronger gridfins, replacing four smaller ones.
- New gridfins have a catch point for tower docking during future landings.
- Fins are positioned lower to reduce engine heat exposure during hot-staging.
SpaceX is implementing key modifications to its Starship V3, primarily focusing on the Super Heavy booster's gridfins. These large, mesh-like metal components are essential for stabilizing the booster during its descent and are crucial for future recovery and reuse.
Version 3 of Starship's booster showcases a revised fin configuration. It now sports three gridfins, each 50% larger and considerably stronger than the four found on previous versions. This redesign aims to improve stability and survivability during atmospheric reentry.
Notable advancements include a new 'catch point' on the gridfins, engineered to facilitate locking onto SpaceX's launch and recovery tower upon return. Additionally, the gridfins are now situated lower on the Super Heavy. This repositioning is intended to mitigate heat exposure from Starship's engines during the hot-staging event, which occurs approximately seven minutes into flight.
