Why do we still expect “successful failures” on rocket launches and not just scale up or scale down the same design on successful rocket ships and launch pads to make bigger or smaller ships with more stable structural material?

Question

Why do we still expect “successful failures” on rocket launches and not just scale up or scale down the same design on successful rocket ships and launch pads to make bigger or smaller ships with more stable structural material?

In: 1598

Answer 1

Material requirements do not scale the same rate as size.

If you double the size, you need 8 times the material capabilities.

Eventually we’re going to need materials as strong as titanium, but weigh as little as paper.