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AERODYNAMIC + PROPULSIVE
Starship Belly Flop Maneuver
Mass
8000 kg
Dimensions
4 body flaps, each ~4 m x 3 m
Material
Stainless steel 304L structure with heat tiles
First Use
Dec 9, 2020
Usage Statistics
10
Successful Uses
70%
Success Rate
How It Works
Starship descends belly-first using four independently actuated body flaps for aerodynamic control, minimizing terminal velocity to ~100 km/h. At ~500 m altitude, Raptor engines relight and the vehicle flips 90° to vertical for propulsive landing.
Key Specifications
Body flaps4 (2 forward, 2 aft)
Flip altitude~500 m
Landing engines3 Raptor (sea-level)
Terminal velocity (belly)~100 km/h
Compatible Vehicles
Starship
Details
The Starship belly flop (skydiver) maneuver is an innovative reentry and landing technique where Starship descends broadside to maximize aerodynamic drag, then performs a last-second flip to vertical orientation for propulsive landing. Four body flaps (two forward, two aft) provide attitude control during the horizontal descent phase. This technique dramatically reduces propellant needed for landing.
External Links
