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Re:SpaceX successfully launches and recovers second Falcon 9... by schiffern on Sunday June 25, 2017 @06:29PM (#14632574)
Thanks. I made a mistake in that comment, saying the lift/drag of the Shuttle was 1. The hypersonic L/D was 1, but during subsonic approach it was 4.5. In hindsight it kinda makes sense that wings do something. :)

The maneuver is more noticeable with the new titanium grid fins (needed because the old aluminum ones caught fire from aerodynamic heating). Not only are they larger, but they use a "sawtooth" leading edge that increases control authority. New: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/879065552060260352 Old: http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12...

They also happen to be the largest titanium forgings in the world. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42544.340#...

Re:SpaceX successfully launches and recovers second Falcon 9... by skykooler on Sunday June 25, 2017 @08:41PM (#14633126)
Well, the plan is to use forging to make them, but the ones on this rocket were cast as a blank and machined. One presumes that they are still working on the forging system. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/878821062326198272