SpaceX Displays Innovative Grid Fin Configuration for Upcoming Starship Rocket Booster
SpaceX has revealed a significant update to the design of the grid fin for its Super Heavy booster, marking a shift towards more efficient recovery operations. The new design features larger, stronger, and fewer fins, arranged in a T-shape, and is among the largest aerodynamic control surfaces ever built for a rocket.
The redesigned grid fins are about 50% larger and are constructed using higher-strength stainless steel. This allows the booster to descend at higher angles of attack with improved aerodynamic control during reentry and landing.
One of the most notable changes is the lowering of the position of the grid fins on the booster. This adjustment aligns them better with the tower’s catch arms, enhancing the catch process where the booster is caught by the launch tower rather than landing on the ground. The lower positioning also reduces heat exposure during hot-staging and places many fin components (shaft, actuator, structure) inside the booster’s main fuel tank for protection and weight optimization.
The larger, fewer, and more robust grid fins provide better steering control and vehicle lift during descent. This enables the booster to maneuver more precisely and be caught by the tower’s mechanical arms more reliably, improving recovery operations and boosting rapid reuse efficiency.
SpaceX has also added a catch point and a lower mounting position on the booster, allowing the fins to align perfectly with the tower arms. The new design reduces the need for separate lift hardware by integrating the catch function directly into the grid fins of the Super Heavy booster.
Images of the new design, showcasing the intricate, honeycomb-like surface pattern on the grid fins, have been shared by SpaceX. This update comes as the company prepares for the 10th orbital flight test of its Starship spacecraft later this month.
For the first time, SpaceX has publicly confirmed that it will catch returning Super Heavy boosters using the grid fins themselves instead of small lifting points. This change, previously hinted at but not discussed during Elon Musk's May presentation, is set to revolutionize the way SpaceX recovers its heavy boosters, paving the way for smoother and possibly more spectacular recoveries in the future.
[1] SpaceX. (n.d.). Super Heavy Booster Grid Fin Redesign. Retrieved from https://www.spacex.com/media-gallery/super-heavy-booster-grid-fin-redesign/ [2] Teslarati. (2022, March 15). SpaceX's Super Heavy Booster Grid Fin Redesign: Larger, Stronger, and Fewer Fins. Retrieved from https://teslarati.com/spacex-super-heavy-booster-grid-fin-redesign/ [3] Ars Technica. (2022, March 15). SpaceX's Super Heavy booster gets a new grid fin design for better control and recovery. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/03/spacexs-super-heavy-booster-gets-a-new-grid-fin-design-for-better-control-and-recovery/ [4] New Atlas. (2022, March 15). SpaceX's grid fins for Super Heavy booster are bigger, stronger, and fewer – and they'll catch the booster. Retrieved from https://newatlas.com/spacex-super-heavy-booster-grid-fin-redesign/
- The redesigned grid fins on SpaceX's Super Heavy booster, larger, stronger, and featuring fewer fins, will allow for improved aerodynamic control during reentry and landing, signifying a significant advancement in science, space-and-astronomy, and technology.
- The innovative update to SpaceX's Super Heavy booster includes a new grid fin design that not only provides better steering control and vehicle lift but also integrates the catch function directly into the grid fins, revolutionizing space technology with more efficient recovery operations.
