Automated fuel tank assembly system & method

A system for assembling an enclosed fuel tank for a space travel vehicle, said system comprising:

• first and second longitudinally spaced chucks;
• first and second fuel tank subassemblies, wherein said fuel tank comprises said first and second fuel tank assemblies, wherein each of said first and second fuel tank subassemblies comprise first and second longitudinally spaced ends, wherein said first chuck is engaged with said first end of said first fuel tank subassembly and said second chuck is engaged with said first end of said second fuel tank subassembly;
• a plurality of fuel tank supports spaced longitudinally between said first and second chucks;
• a longitudinally extending guide assembly;
• a first mount movably interconnected with said guide assembly;
• a drive assembly interconnected with said first mount, wherein said first mount moves along said guide assembly by operation of said drive assembly;
• a first machining tool attached to said first mount and thereby movable along said guide assembly with said first mount;
• a measuring device attached to said first mount and thereby movable along said guide assembly with said first mount;
• a first welding assembly;
• a computer readable storage medium operatively interconnected with said measuring device;
• and
• a first data storage structure stored on said computer-readable storage medium, said first data storage structure comprising a plurality of data segments, wherein data segments of information on said fuel tank are associated with each other, wherein a first said data segment comprises length information for said first fuel tank subassembly of said fuel tank prior to being processed by said first fuel tank subassembly of said fuel tank after being processed by said first machining tool.