Rocket thrust structure assembly, and associated systems and methods

A method of assembling an aerospace system, the method comprising:

• positioning a constellation of targets on a body portion of the aerospace system;
• using a measurement system, determining a distance between the measurement system and each of the targets;
• determining a position and orientation of the measurement system relative to the targets in a reference coordinate system;
• within the reference coordinate system, using the measurement system, measuring two or more first mounting faces attached to the body portion;
• forming a digital representation of each of the first mounting faces within the reference coordinate system;
• based on the digital representation of each of the first mounting faces, defining one or more shims, wherein each shim is configured to be positioned on a corresponding first mounting face to form a second mounting face, wherein each second mounting face is coplanar with a first mounting face and/or another second mounting face within the reference coordinate system;
• positioning each shim on each corresponding first mounting face;
• and
• forming one or more mounting holes in each shim and each corresponding mounting face, based on a hole pattern within the reference coordinate system.

A method of assembling a structure, the method comprising:

• selecting a reference coordinate system;
• within the reference coordinate system, and using a measurement system, scanning and characterizing an attachment feature positioned on a first structural element;
• forming, in a computing system, a digital representation of the attachment feature within the reference coordinate system;
• based on the digital representation of the attachment feature, defining a shim, wherein when the shim is positioned on the attachment feature, the shim forms a new mounting face that is positioned in a nominal location;
• positioning the shim on the attachment feature;
• positioning a drill jig over the shim and on the new mounting face, wherein the drill jig comprises a hole pattern;
• adjusting the drill jig to position the hole pattern, using the measurement system;
• and making holes based on the hole pattern.