SpaceX Rocket Manufacturing — photo series below. Here you see […]

SpaceX Rocket Manufacturing — photo series below.

Here you see the carbon fiber interstage coupler. The triad of cutouts along the rim are for the pneumatic pushers that separate the boost stage from the upper stages of the Falcon9 rocket.

And here is an action photo of this coupler in action on the October flight to the ISS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/8065095602/#comment72157631716773474