New SpaceX Superheavy Starship Design is Metal Tanks and Structures

The new design for the SpaceX Super Heavy Starship will have mostly fairly heavy metal parts. This could relate to the previously mentioned tank and airframe structure changes. This is a change from the prior designs which had mainly composite materials.

Elon Musk mentioned this design change in a discussion of the titanium grid fins on the current Falcon 9.

We should see how this is coming together in early January when there may be photos of a partially assembled Starship (aka top stage of the BFR).

The new design is metal

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2018

Fairly heavy metal, but extremely strong

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2018

First grid fin has been removed from the 3x flown Falcon 9 standing at port of LA. Been wanting to see this happen for years. So NEAT! #spacex @Teslarati pic.twitter.com/iICf7Pypn8

— Pauline Acalin (@w00ki33) December 8, 2018

As far as we know, it’s the largest single piece titanium casting in the world. Major improvement over the old aluminum grid fins, as the titanium doesn’t need heat shielding or even paint.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 8, 2018

Whats the actual.booster made from? Steel?

— James Gledhill (@TheGledinator) December 8, 2018

Previously Elon talked about changing the airframe, tanks and heatshield.

Contour remains approx same, but fundamental materials change to airframe, tanks & heatshield

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2018

Aluminum. Some parts are carbon composite (interstage) their new Starship and Super Heavy will be all carbon composite (mostly)

— Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) December 8, 2018

SpaceX Adapted Software Design Methods to Hardware

SpaceX continues to iterate on the design.

Agile methodologies or scrum were methods and processes developed by others for software development. This method uses short development iterations which are typically two weeks to a month per cycle. It is a continuous improvement or development process. The Waterfall method was the dominant project management approach before Agile.

Tesla does not have model years like traditional car companies. They make continuous slight incremental changes all the time on assembly-line. A Tesla car at the beginning year is not quite the same car at the end of the year. It is a slightly improved version of the car.

They can also send significant improvements to their customer’s cars with remote software updates.

SpaceX in 2019

There is more discussion of the possible metal structures here and other expected developments in 2019.

* there will be new commercial launches of the SpaceX Heavy
* there should be hop tests of the Starship late in 2019
* there should certification of the manned dragon vehicle
* beginning deployments of the Starlink satellites or at least quite a few more prototypes

Brian Wang

Brian Wang is a prolific business-oriented writer of emerging and disruptive technologies. He is known for insightful articles that combine business and technical analysis that catches the attention of the general public and is also useful for those in the industries. He is the sole author and writer of nextbigfuture.com, the top online science blog. He is also involved in angel investing and raising funds for breakthrough technology startup companies.

He gave the recent keynote presentation at Monte Jade event with a talk entitled the Future for You.  He gave an annual update on molecular nanotechnology at Singularity University on nanotechnology, gave a TEDX talk on energy, and advises USC ASTE 527 (advanced space projects program). He has been interviewed for radio, professional organizations. podcasts and corporate events. He was recently interviewed by the radio program Steel on Steel on satellites and high altitude balloons that will track all movement in many parts of the USA.

He fundraises for various high impact technology companies and has worked in computer technology, insurance, healthcare and with corporate finance.

He has substantial familiarity with a broad range of breakthrough technologies like age reversal and antiaging, quantum computers, artificial intelligence, ocean tech,  agtech, nuclear fission, advanced nuclear fission, space propulsion, satellites, imaging, molecular nanotechnology, biotechnology, medicine, blockchain, crypto and many other areas.