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Mega bay coming along, will accomodate 10-12 workstations rather than 2-3 of high bay. Also modestly taller (30')
Will use ullage gas for small maneuvers rather than hot gas thrusters. Elon realized this was the way to go during a previous Tim Dodd interview.
B7 is better and simpler than B4 and B5. Upgraded grid fins and chines.
The chines are 120° offset (aimed more down than flat). It helps balance the booster in reentry so it comes in flatter, and increases the ability to capture the air and get more resistance. These chines are primitive, will be improved
why using grid fins rather than something more traditional? For now, F9 experience. Also, good stability of performance in sub through hypersonic regimes. Low motor power requirements, especially compared to flaps. But perhaps could do better in future. Also, even with grid fins, may get away with just 2? Not more than 3 in the long run, with the third small, if they do stick with grid fins.
Back in early F9 days they tried doing boostback with no grid fins? Too unstable. But you don't need BIG control surfaces to compensate.
There's a dispenser door on S24. Elon: it's not going to blow anyone's mind. Tim: you'd be surprised. Elon: If the mechanisms inside jam up, that'll be pretty embarrassing. Joe: It's like an industrial pallet-stacker.
Next launch will be full orbital, not this quasi-orbital plan from earlier… but there was like a 30m/s difference so eh.
Not high confidence that first flight will work.
The tiles will expand to fill in the gaps. Shingling them would be excessively complicated… they think.
