Weekly Space Report: Starship Block 2 Deep Dive

SCANALYZER The Happening World
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Highlights:

  • “Carol of the bells with rocket nozzles”

  • Tower arms for Pad West, Pad West progress

  • Likely TF7 launch on January 10 based on FAA advisory

  • Blue Origin New Glenn launch license

  • Falcon 9: Bandwagon 2, Starlink 12-2

  • Rocket Lab Electron “Owl the Way Up”

Block 1 vs. Block 2:

  • Forward flaps smaller, thinner, and repositioned leeward ~20° to protect the hinges, reduce drag.

  • Flap tiles at hinge are substantially upgraded.

  • Reduced tiles at centerline between flaps, perhaps for ship catch clearance

  • Smaller tiles at body rings near stringers.

  • Much larger ship propellant tanks. 1200T => 1500T propellant mass increase.

  • Payload space moves to occupy space previously need by the forward flaps’ hardware, which is now much closer to the nose.

  • Ship propellant separation by Forward Dome and Common Dome replaced with new “EDome” designs. Design transfer from boosters.

  • New lifting points for both fabrication and operations.

  • Speculation on catch points.

  • Substantial plumbing changes. Including new downcomers for vaccuum engines.

  • Tail section vents

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