Ethan George, a 2021 Spencerport graduate and alumni of the Ranger Robotics Team 3015, interned at the SpaceX corporation this summer and contributed to developing various components most recently used in their October 15 rocket launch.
Ethan shared the following insight about his experience along with words of advice for our current students and Robotics team.
“I am a fourth-year mechanical engineering student pursuing my bachelors/masters at RIT. This past summer I interned at SpaceX in Los Angeles, California, as a R&D Manufacturing/Machining Engineer. In this role I worked in the Starship RND Machine Shop, developing and optimizing manufacturing and machining processes for new Starship components. I also worked through the whole value chain to ensure no delays from specific component needs for Starship tests and flights.
“My primary project was to create the first machining production cell for Starship to prove SpaceX capability to manufacture, at rate and cheaper cost, all the necessary parts for a full valve assembly. This assembly is the single most expensive line item outside of the engines, consisting of varying materials and difficulties, and was fully productionized using two CNC machines. My founding principle was that if a robot can do it (which is what a CNC machine innately is) then a person should not have to do that. This meant automating machine loading and unloading, in-machine component inspection, having robust failure detection, and plenty of other factors. Analyzing machine utilization, tool life turnover, and production rate data all create a story of how an operation can be improved, and is critical to ensuring cost effective and timely production. Outside of the production cell, I was responsible for manufacturing planning and delivery of various components across the rocket, getting to work with a high mix of different valves, actuators, and components for new (and unfortunately secret) mechanisms
“SpaceX taught me numerous lessons, and was an invaluable experience to me as a developing engineer. My biggest takeaway is to never be the restricting factor – if you can do a five-minute task that enables someone else to start doing something, that is your immediate focus. Also, attention to detail and extreme ownership is the most important thing for a successful project, to operate at the highest level you must truly care about every little detail, and you must feel and bear full responsibility for it. To those looking to be a successful engineer, my biggest piece of advice is to be passionate, be persistent, and forever be a student ready to learn.”
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