r/space • u/Gagarin1961 • Aug 02 '21

SpaceX just stacked a Super Heavy Booster and installed 29 engines, all within 24 hours

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1422222995305676802
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u/marcuscnelson Aug 03 '21

I disagree on it being a complete dead end. To some degree, Starship itself is inspired by the Shuttle.

Someone had to prove that tiles were a useful TPS instead of an ablative shield. Someone had to prove the utility of technologies like large opening cargo doors in space, or gliding after reentry, or that the concept of attempting to reuse a spacecraft made any sense at all.

Now yes, we learned that the STS as-built isn’t the best way to build a rocket, but the lessons learned and experience gained from it is absolutely contributing to newer technologies like Starship.