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Comment by brandonagr2

13 hours ago

https://www.spacex.com/content/starship/holy-grail-of-rocket... at 13:35 has a good view of a raptor 3 with TVC, do you think that adds substantially to what is pictured at the top of the article?

TLDW but TVC for rocket engines is usually achieved by like one hydraulic suspension rod each for X and Y axes(Y and Z in rocketry? idk) serving as parts of the engine mounting frame. It shouldn't add a lot to the system.

  • I didn't have a particularly good view from 13:35 frames. TVC is a relatively simple subsystem, but it's there.

  • Yes, that's the usual way. With SpaceX, however, Raptor engines are gimbled with electric actuators.

    And yes, the TVC adds very little to the complexity of Raptor 3's appearance: it still looks like science fiction, even when operating in Starship. Had TVC been present in the original SP1 image that had Tory accusing SpaceX of misleading everyone, it would have made no difference.

    > TLDW

    That video has beautiful shots of Raptor 3 firing and gimbling. It's worth watching.