W.A.Mair's boat-tail
 

Let's see if this works
https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...9-a-23877.html

https://innerspacenetwork.files.word..._vehicle.0.jpg
hinnerspacenetwork.wordpress.com/2021/12/05/rocket-labs-next-generation-launch-vehicle-neutron/

The CEO, Peter Beck, says making the aft end bigger than the nose increases aerobraking so they don't need heat tiles.

You only need heat resistant tiles if you re-enter in a hurry. If you do the skip re entry technique, stainless works fine. Rutan uses carbon fiber.

A caliper held to the screen suggests ~50% greater diameter at the aft end. One wonders if it makes a difference on the way up.

Also the effect of four supersonic shock waves from the four protruding landing legs.

aero braking
 

Does she come in aft- first at all times, or nose-first, then transition?

way up
 

Under rocket thrust, the expanding gases act as a virtual structural boat-tail. The drag will vary from subsonic- to- transonic-to- supersonic.
A larger rear cross-section is like arrow feathers.
On all launches, you'll here cap-com announce ' max-Q', where the airframe is experiencing the highest aerodynamic loading of the flight.
If the 'tube' isn't crushed by then, between payload and thrust, or deformed by aeroelasticity, the engineers have made a successful design.
And as P. has mentioned, if intermittent thrusting, never allows the tube to exceed its aerodynamic heating threshold velocity, it won't need tiling.

The videos I've seen looks like it comes in tail first like the Falcon, not belly-flopping like the Starship. That rotation must be a wild ride.

The built-in landing legs eliminates the mid-air catching system.