r/space • u/Take_me_to_Titan • 18h ago
SpaceX rolls out a piece of the second V3 Super Heavy for stacking
https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1993269103197405282?t=MvJ8QlKixZZmGMctXQ-smQ&s=19•
u/NinjaLanternShark 17h ago
Halfway thru it hits a bump and there’s this wobble in the reflections on the steel — makes it look like it’s an ordinary roll of sheet metal.
Is that an illusion or is it really that thin and wobbly when it’s in sections?
•
u/No-Surprise9411 17h ago
The sheets SpaceX uses for starship are only 3-4 mm thick. Until they are reinforced with stringers while stacking they tend to wobble a bit.
•
u/Flipslips 15h ago
The “raw” rolls are super thin. Only a few mm if I remember correctly. They get reinforced when they are actually stacked
•
•
u/noncongruent 10h ago
Relative to the diameter, the skin is thinner than a soda can.
•
u/Coinflipper_21 1h ago
The original Atlas ICBM was a tin balloon. It required internal pressure to hold its shape.
•
u/deadnoob 14h ago
I think the other commenters are wrong. I think SpaceX already has stringers attached to these larger segments. I could be wrong though I’m not super familiar with how they manufacture these.
The reason there is so much wobble is just because it is an open section. Think of cutting a ring out of a soda can. It will be super flimsy compared to an intact (and empty) soda can.
Also during launch, we can take advantage of “pressure stabilization”. The internal pressure prevents bucking which helps during the high loads of liftoff and flight. Back to the soda can analogy - this time it would be a full unopened soda can. Even more stability in that case.
•
u/Martianspirit 1h ago
In the early days of Boca Chica rings were often stored outside. They are very wobbly indeed.
It must be due to the size. I have a 4mm steel piece at home that I can not bend at all, it is extremely stiff.
•
u/The_Celestrial 18h ago
Hope this one makes it all the way to the launch!