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A report from Hawthorne detailed SpaceX's advanced heat shield tile production. The "bakery" now produces over 1,000 tiles daily—surpassing the entire shuttle program in just three years—aiming for Starship’s high-frequency launch cadence.
The Crunch Tile Innovation
To prevent damage caused by thermal contraction and expansion, SpaceX developed the “Crunch wrap,” wrapping Vulcan felt around tiles to mitigate plasma seepage during re-entry. Elon highlighted the significance of this innovation, emphasizing the heat shield’s critical role in rapid turnaround.
The Goal: Fully Reusable Starship
With all parts, including tiles, moving to automation and mass production, Elon reaffirmed that Starship's reusability hinges on these heat shield advancements.