SpaceX will use stainless steel in the construction of the Starship rocket



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Initially, SpaceX would build its Starship rocket in aluminum and carbon fiber. Elon Musk, the company's CEO, has now changed his mind. For him, several factors have pushed him to rethink and opt for stainless steel.

Basically, aluminum and carbon fiber would make the whole process more expensive and would take longer, even if the amount of metal used was lower. After evaluating the possibilities, Musk decided to use lead-coated stainless steel for stainless steel.

Pbadengers to the Moon and Mars because this material is cheaper than carbon fiber, even though it is heavier. Be that as it may, stainless steel is still lighter than many other metals and its resistance to cryogenic temperatures is excellent. The colder, more resistant, and without risk of cracking because it can maintain ductility. In principle, we will use the type 301 stainless steel, very similar to that used for the manufacture of kitchen utensils.

Besides the benefits already mentioned, when using stainless steel, Musk could put into practice his dream coating project that works as a heat shield that cools down. This coating will contain plates with a space between them, which will be filled with water. When it is heated, this water evaporates by microperforations, causing a cooling effect similar to the sweating of living beings.

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