From: snidely.too@gmail.com   
      
   on 1/2/2021, JF Mezei supposed :   
   > SpaceX has demonstrated so far that its glorified beer kegs can liftoff   
   > and  land (and for SN8, did amazing job with controlling ship to the   
   > ground with insufficient thrust and one engine turned off. So the   
   > software appears quite mature.   
   >   
   > However, all those are flights with nearly empty tanks and no cargo and   
   > no heat shield.   
   >   
   > Is there any public data at this point that shows this will be an   
   > effective launcher instead of a Spruce Goose that can liftoff and land   
   > but with no payload?   
      
   Consider that SN8's flight was with only 3 engines, the other 3 Raptors   
   (the Vacuum-Optimized optimized ones) haven't been installed yet.   
      
   Also, Starship plans include suborbital cargo hops, with the expected   
   range allowing Florida to Tunisia (actually, the info specifies kms,   
   but I'm giving my interpretation).   
      
   > (Or SuperHeavy launches Starship with cargo but no fuel, requiring   
   > in-orbit refueling for all launches) ?   
      
   Why don't you wait and see, Thomas?   
      
   I'm interested in what a thrust puck from 27 Raptors looks like.  Glad   
   I'm not a plumber.   
      
   /dps   
      
   --   
   "What do you think of my cart, Miss Morland? A neat one, is not it?   
   Well hung: curricle-hung in fact. Come sit by me and we'll test the   
   springs."   
   (Speculative fiction by H.Lacedaemonian.)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)