SpaceflightMemes

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A Lemmy analogue to r/SpaceXMasterRace.

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threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works

am i going insane or is this seriously live reentry plasma??? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by Jumuta@sh.itjust.works to c/spaceflightmemes@sh.itjust.works

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a screenshot from starship ift3 with visible reentry plasma on the ship

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I'm not qualified to say exactly why, but the team was stressing that Starship is big enough that it "punches a hole through the atmosphere"

I think Starship is just wider than most spacecraft which have reentered so far, and so the plasma doesn't completely surround the vehicle. I think the Space Shuttle also had a small hole in the plasma near the tail, through which communications could be sent. Smaller gumdrop-shaped capsules (like Dragon and Soyuz) are completely enveloped in plasma, and thus experience blackout periods.

[–] Jumuta@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

pretty sure it's because starship can communicate with starlink satellites up in orbit, unlike others that have to communicate with ground stations