STARSHIP HEAT SHIELD: THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FOR FULL REUSABILITY – ELON MUSK ON THE KEY TO ORBITAL RETURNThe reusable heat shield is the single hardest part of making Starship truly revolutionary.No vehicle has ever achieved a fully reusable orbital-class thermal protection system that survives reentry multiple times with minimal refurbishment. ~18,000 hexagonal ceramic tiles must withstand temperatures hotter than lava (~1,600°C+), radiate heat away, handle thermal expansion/contraction, and allow rapid r ...