SpaceX Titanium Grid Fins Soar!
Congratulations to my SpaceX friends and family for successfully flying titanium grid fins for the first time! The BulgariaSat1 mission showed the world the largest and most visible application of titanium on a SpaceX vehicle there's ever been. So exciting for the titanium world!
The material itself, Ti-6242, a grade developed specifically for high temperature aeroengine use, was a perfect choice to try to resist the high speed and temperature generated on re-entry. It's titanium plus 6% of aluminum, 2% tin, 4% zirconium and 2% molybdenum. It's a near-alpha alloy and these materials tend to have very good creep resistance and high temperature strength around the 1000-1100F mark. In fact there are other high temperature alloys that might have been used also include Ti-1100 or Ti-834 and derivatives. However Ti-6242 is off patent and widely commercially available and it's also a castable alloy.
I'm so so proud to have worked on this project during my time at SpaceX and will always hold a special place in my heart for this application. Big shout out to Daniel, David, Brandon, Sean, Matt and Ben of course for making this titanium dream come true. With titanium grid fins, SpaceX vehicles will light up the solar system! Occupy Mars!
Industry Manager: Aerospace & Medical at TRUMPF North America
7 年It's a casting
Highest Quality Welding in the World ?? | ?????? | Aerospace | Nuclear | Titanium | Exotic alloys | Problem Solver | 29K+ Followers
7 年Nice, are they totally casted at one piece or did it also required welding? Does someone know?
SpaceX Quality Specialist | Entrepreneur
7 年Correction , the titanium grid fins were first flown on Iridium-2 out of Vandenberg
Industry Manager: Aerospace & Medical at TRUMPF North America
7 年What I'm impressed with is that this has got to be one of the most amazing yet obvious advertisements for titanium that the world's ever seen for many many years. I'm also not surprised that it's SpaceX who dares to take risks and make bold moves like this. To Dare is To Do
Chief Technologist, Thermoplastics Laboratory at Qarbon Aerospace
7 年Hi, Eli, I remember those first inquiries about titanium, only then they were trying to make 6-4 work. I really tried to get them to take a look at 6-2-4-2-si for the temp use. But you know how it was..... very difficult to sell anything new, particularly titanium. I don't think the industry will understand what a bold move this is for this particular company as compared to Boeing, GE, Pratt and so many other aerospace companies that have made their companies on building human-rated vehicles which must perform flawlessly thousands of times under incredible stress fields, despite rough handling, bizarre maintenance programs, FOD and etc. You know what I mean, you worked on many of those same applications and surely had some of the same people in your titanium classes that I had. We tried to get the vision out there, and we knew it was like seading new trees in the grove. You're never quite sure which ones will grow up to be the most impressive, but with good basics they all become trees. Congratulations on your contribution to this too Eli, I know you had a strong hand in it too.