SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
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Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#2u/RGVaerial on r/SpaceXLounge has overlayed these plans onto an aerial photo [1]. It looks a lot smaller than one might expect.
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/lzf9z7/propos...
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#3SpaceX just trademarked Starbase
https://uspto.report/TM/90556104
STARBASE™ trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of launch services, namely, launching the payloads of others into space.
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#4u/RGVaerial on r/SpaceXLounge has overlayed these plans onto an aerial photo [1]. It looks a lot smaller than one might expect. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/lzf9z7/propos...
If you add the massive Starship+SuperHeavy in for scale, it looks even smaller.
https://twitter.com/Caspar_Stanley/status/136834862870895001...
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#5And why not?
At the rate SpaceX is moving at, they may have the world's largest orbital launch system by the end of the year. That's not even "Elon-time" anymore, it's totally within reason that they could have their first orbital Starship launch this year.
When Starship becomes commercially viable, things are going to change fast for the space industry. And that little Starbase in Boca Chica is going to be a busy place.
(And in the meantime, we get to watch all the explody tests, which is excellent entertainment!)
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#6There's no indication that they are building any sort of structure to "catch" the first stage booster at the landing site.
edit: It was pointed out that the integration tower to the very bottom is a likely candidate.
This seems right as the proposed launch layout is slightly larger given the larger size of the booster.
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#7Quick question - since it's South Texas and I can see the Gulf of Mexico in the screenshot... isn't that a little close to the water? Not just maybe global warming + sea level rises but storm surge from hurricanes.
Or is that not a concern? Anyone with more knowledge on the topic could share?
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#8Quick question - since it's South Texas and I can see the Gulf of Mexico in the screenshot... isn't that a little close to the water? Not just maybe global warming + sea level rises but storm surge from hurricanes. Or is that not a concern? Anyone with more knowledge on the topic could share?
"What is striking about this architectural drawing is its compact nature, largely because SpaceX has limited land to work with at the facility and must include stormwater ponds to mitigate against flooding."
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#9There's no indication that they are building any sort of structure to "catch" the first stage booster at the landing site. edit: It was pointed out that the integration tower to the very bottom is a likely candidate. This seems right as the proposed launch layout is slightly larger given the larger size of the booster.
There is the "Integration Tower" structure at the south side next to the new orbital launch pad. If the plan is to catch and re-fly then that would make sense.
Re: SpaceX reveals the grand extent of its starport plans in South Texas
#10There's no indication that they are building any sort of structure to "catch" the first stage booster at the landing site. edit: It was pointed out that the integration tower to the very bottom is a likely candidate. This seems right as the proposed launch layout is slightly larger given the larger size of the booster.
Why would they? It lands under thrust like the Falcons, with two major differences:
1. it goes back to its launch area rather than merely going down as the Falcons do (why the Falcons need to land on a ship)
2. it's too heavy to get enough air resistance by falling vertically like the Falcons, so it does this amazing belly flop with a "flip and burn" at the last moment