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0 pointsJshWright8y ago0 comments

No, the ablative material is white (like on the center core). The darker fins are the fancy new titanium fins (note they're a little larger too).

Not sure why they went with the new fins on the side cores and not the center core... The side cores are going to have a pretty tame reentry (gentler than a Falcon 9 to LEO), while the center core will be coming in very hot. Currently they only use the titanium fins on very hot GTO reentries.

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2 comments · 2 top-level

emilecantin8y ago

On the SpaceX subreddit, I've seen a few mention that it's probably because of the different aerodynamics with a nose cone; they need more control authority in that case.

jacquesm8y ago

Ah right, thank you.

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