A metal part that looks like a giant pot lid could help speed up rocket production in China. Researchers from Dalian University of Technology have achieved mass production of a smooth, one-piece rocket propellant tank dome measuring more than 2 meters in diameter and only 4 millimeters thick. The part forms the bottom of a rocket fuel tank and must withstand huge vibration, impact and pressure during launch. Using an ultra-low-temperature forming technology, the team can shape the thin aluminum alloy plate in one step, cutting the manufacturing cycle from more than a week to just a few hours.