I wonder if they could use carbon fiber?
It has near zero thermal expansion.
I have this awesome vision of some big machine sitting at both ends where they knit fibres together, cure it then just basically extrude the thing the whole way and meet in the middle.
Yes it's expensive but with the magic of science and a bit of hand waving surely our processes have advanced to the point where this is becoming feasible?
Unfortunately I have no idea if a carbon fibre tube is suitable to operating at sub atmospheric pressures...
I have this awesome vision of some big machine sitting at both ends where they knit fibres together, cure it then just basically extrude the thing the whole way and meet in the middle.
Yes it's expensive but with the magic of science and a bit of hand waving surely our processes have advanced to the point where this is becoming feasible?
Unfortunately I have no idea if a carbon fibre tube is suitable to operating at sub atmospheric pressures...