Quote:
Originally Posted by deanm
Ice can persist through a full heat-shield re-entry (if in the right place).
One of the Shuttles once landed with a large icicle still present outside, up behind the flight deck - a leaking valve shedding water.
SpaceX's 1st stage doesn't do a full heat-shield re-entry (it's still sub-orbital) and the propulsive burns to bring it back are brief, with sustained firing of the centre engine only just before touchdown - by which stage previously-accumulated ice could prevent proper leg deployment & locking.
Dean
It just ocurred to me: SpaceX need to borrow from the astro community.
What they need is a bunch of dew straps/heaters to avoid ice formation where critical!
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interesting, i would have thought the proximity to the engines during landing would have vaporised any ice on the feet