(Shanghai, January 29, 2026)-- Recently, the commercial space sector has witnessed a major development. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, officially announced on January 26 that the Starship V3 version will conduct its first test flight at the Starbase launch site in Texas in six weeks (expected in early March 2026). The core mission is to send the next-generation Starlink V3 satellites into orbit while verifying the operational performance of the Raptor 3 engine. This plan, combined with the recent approval from the U.S. FCC for the deployment of 15,000 second-generation Starlink satellites, marks the official entry of the global commercial space industry into a new era of "high capacity, low cost, and reusability". Sunlion Steel Pipeline Co., Ltd. (www.sunlionsteel.com), based on its deep cultivation in aerospace-grade stainless steel pipe technology, accurately meets the core needs of commercial space for lightweight and extreme working condition resistance, providing key support for industry upgrading.
Starship iteration spurs new requirements for pipe performance. The Starship V3 version to be test-flown adopts a thinner but stronger stainless steel ring segment structure, achieving weight reduction and efficiency improvement while ensuring hull strength, reducing weight by approximately 42.9 tons per launch and significantly enhancing payload capacity. This design places strict requirements on supporting pipelines: they must adapt to the ultra-low temperature environment of -183℃ liquid oxygen propellant transportation, withstand high-temperature impacts above 300℃ during engine operation, and possess excellent corrosion resistance and vibration resistance to match the reusable design goal. In addition, the single-satellite communication capacity of Starlink V3 reaches 1Tbps, and the requirements for the sealing performance and low flow resistance of precision pipelines in its on-orbit fluid circulation and cooling system have been significantly upgraded, driving the iteration of aerospace pipes towards "composite, high-precision, and long-life" directions.
Stainless steel becomes the core material choice for commercial space. Guided by the development orientation of low cost and high reliability in commercial space, stainless steel has become the core material for reusable rockets due to its balanced advantages of performance and cost. The 304L stainless steel used in Starship, after composite modification, can withstand high temperatures of 1200-1600℃ during re-entry into the atmosphere without a complex thermal insulation system. Its material cost is only 1/9 of high-end aerospace aluminum alloy and 1/60 of carbon fiber, reducing rocket material costs by more than 90%. With the advancement of SpaceX's IPO process and the launch of the space data center plan by Musk, the global demand for commercial aerospace pipe markets continues to grow. It is expected that the compound annual growth rate of the aerospace-grade stainless steel pipe market will exceed 15% from 2026 to 2030, with reusable rockets and satellite constellations contributing core increments.
Sunlion Tackles Technical Challenges to Adapt to New Commercial Space Scenarios. Relying on its profound accumulation in high-end stainless steel pipe manufacturing, Sunlion focuses on the core needs of commercial space and focuses on the R&D of aerospace-grade stainless steel composite pipes and precision structural components. The company adopts duplex stainless steel modification technology, and by accurately adjusting the ratio of austenite and ferrite phases, the yield strength of the pipe reaches twice that of ordinary stainless steel, which can withstand extreme temperature changes from -196℃ to 350℃, perfectly adapting to Starship propellant transportation and satellite cooling system scenarios. With high-precision cutting equipment and automated welding processes, the pipe processing error is controlled within ±1.5mm. Combined with ultrasonic phased array non-destructive testing technology, full-process control of welding quality is achieved, and the service life of the product is more than three times that of traditional pipes. At present, the company has completed performance verification of a variety of stainless steel pipes suitable for reusable rockets, and can provide customized solutions to help improve equipment weight reduction, efficiency and cost optimization.
A relevant person in charge of Sunlion said: "Musk's commercial space plan is reconstructing the global aerospace industry pattern, and reusability and low cost have become the core trends of the industry. As a preferred solution for aerospace pipes, stainless steel has huge market potential. Sunlion Pipeline will continue to deepen technological innovation in aerospace-grade stainless steel, focus on improving adaptability to extreme working conditions and precision manufacturing capabilities, strengthen collaborative cooperation with industrial chain partners, support the large-scale development of commercial space with high-quality pipe products, and contribute to the global aerospace industry transformation."
About Sunlion .: Sunlion focuses on the R&D, production and sales of high-end pipeline products, deeply cultivates in commercial space, oil and gas, chemical industry and other fields, and focuses on the technological innovation and scenario application of high-end pipes such as stainless steel and titanium alloy. With strict quality control and customized solution capabilities, the company has established a good reputation in the industry. For more details, please visit the official website www.sunlionsteel.com.
