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
Elon Musk @elonmusk
В ответ @Erdayastronaut @w00ki33 @Teslarati
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.
James Gledhill @TheGledinator
В ответ @elonmusk @Erdayastronaut и еще 2
Whats the actual.booster made from? Steel?
Everyday Astronaut @Erdayastronaut
Aluminum. Some parts are carbon composite (interstage) their new Starship and Super Heavy will be all carbon composite (mostly)
Elon Musk @elonmusk
The new design is metal
Elon Musk @elonmusk
Fairly heavy metal, but extremely strong
Everyday Astronaut @Erdayastronaut
It seems like you’ve made some really big changes recently. Is this why we didn’t get a big technical rundown at #dearmoon or IAC this year? So what’s with the big mandrels at the port? Or those carbon tanks shown off for the past couple years?
Elon Musk @elonmusk
Yes
Elon Musk @elonmusk
But cool pics of the demo Starship that will fly suborbital hops coming in ~4 weeks