Image link from NSF forum.
Originally leaked on X (I think), then posted to the SpaceXLounge subreddit by u/mehelponow
6 points
Shuttle was aluminium beneath the thermal tiles, so damage to the tiles was catastrophic. The expectation is Starship will be okay with a few tiles out, partly because steel is much more capable than aluminium, and partly because they have backup thermal protection
2 points
Sure, but there it a huge chasm between “catastrophic failure” and “looks good to go again next week”, and even minor structural damage will prevent rapid resuse.
3 points
I’d much rather be on a spacecraft that wore out too soon than one that catastrophically failed
1 point