For the 9m versions, a guess as to their route from the Hawthorne factory to the location where the Shuttle External Tank was unloaded from an ocean-going barge would be:1. Start at the SpaceX factory, exiting (I think) onto Jack Northrop Blvd going East2. Turn left onto Crenshaw Blvd going North3. Turn left onto W 120th Street going West4. Turn right onto Hawthorne Blvd going North, which turns into South La Brea Ave5. Turn left onto E Arbor Vitae Street, which turns into Westchester Parkway* Now the BRF & ITS will be using part of the same route the Shuttle ET used, just in reverse6. Turn right onto Loyola Blvd7. Turn left onto Lincoln Blvd8. Turn right onto Culver Blvd9. Turn left onto CA-90 - going against the normal direction of traffic10. Turn left onto Mindanao Way11. Turn left onto Lincoln Blvd12. Turn right onto Fiji Way13. End at the CruiseMDR.com Dock 55 LandingLines and signs moved, and some tree trimming may be needed, but it looks doable.
....For the 9m versions, a guess as to their route from the Hawthorne factory to the location where the Shuttle External Tank was unloaded from an ocean-going barge would be:1. Start at the SpaceX factory, exiting (I think) onto Jack Northrop Blvd going East2. Turn left onto Crenshaw Blvd going North3. Turn left onto W 120th Street going West4. Turn right onto Hawthorne Blvd going North, which turns into South La Brea Ave5. Turn left onto E Arbor Vitae Street, which turns into Westchester Parkway* Now the BRF & ITS will be using part of the same route the Shuttle ET used, just in reverse6. Turn right onto Loyola Blvd7. Turn left onto Lincoln Blvd8. Turn right onto Culver Blvd9. Turn left onto CA-90 - going against the normal direction of traffic10. Turn left onto Mindanao Way11. Turn left onto Lincoln Blvd12. Turn right onto Fiji Way13. End at the CruiseMDR.com Dock 55 LandingLines and signs moved, and some tree trimming may be needed, but it looks doable.
Jack it up higher.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/04/2017 02:35 amJack it up higher.Above the traffic lights?
remove the traffic light like they did for Shuttle.
Just space to move manufacturing for tanks and final assembly near enough to Hawthorne that employees can work in both places without relocating, that permits direct loading onto ocean going ships.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/04/2017 02:46 amremove the traffic light like they did for Shuttle.They would need to remove a lot of traffic lights and power lines along that route.Seems crazy expensive.
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 10/03/2017 09:49 pmFor the 9m versions, a guess as to their route from the Hawthorne factory to the location where the Shuttle External Tank was unloaded from an ocean-going barge would be:1. Start at the SpaceX factory, exiting (I think) onto Jack Northrop Blvd going East2. Turn left onto Crenshaw Blvd going North3. Turn left onto W 120th Street going West4. Turn right onto Hawthorne Blvd going North, which turns into South La Brea Ave5. Turn left onto E Arbor Vitae Street, which turns into Westchester Parkway* Now the BRF & ITS will be using part of the same route the Shuttle ET used, just in reverse6. Turn right onto Loyola Blvd7. Turn left onto Lincoln Blvd8. Turn right onto Culver Blvd9. Turn left onto CA-90 - going against the normal direction of traffic10. Turn left onto Mindanao Way11. Turn left onto Lincoln Blvd12. Turn right onto Fiji Way13. End at the CruiseMDR.com Dock 55 LandingLines and signs moved, and some tree trimming may be needed, but it looks doable.I don't see how they can make the first turn. I've shown BFR (booster) to scale as the white box on the image below.Again, this is the 9m diameter version from the latest presentation. But still, at 30 feet diameter and over 200 feet long, the thing is huge.Also, removing traffic lights and lifting power lines isn't cheap.
Elon Tweeted in July, that "A 9m diameter vehicle fits in our existing factories ...".https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/888813713800785923Then, he anounced the 9 m diameter, as decision. Any more queston?Well, immediately after that tweet, somebody asked about the transport and Elon didn't answer, as far as I know.
Quote from: geza on 10/02/2017 12:51 pmElon Tweeted in July, that "A 9m diameter vehicle fits in our existing factories ...".https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/888813713800785923Then, he anounced the 9 m diameter, as decision. Any more queston?Well, immediately after that tweet, somebody asked about the transport and Elon didn't answer, as far as I know.what are their (SpaceX) existing factories?
I don't see how they can make the first turn. I've shown BFR (booster) to scale as the white box on the image below.Again, this is the 9m diameter version from the latest presentation. But still, at 30 feet diameter and over 200 feet long, the thing is huge.
Also, removing traffic lights and lifting power lines isn't cheap.
Sometimes I wonder if they plan their statements to make it confusing: "Okay, you say "A" at your speech this week and I'll say "B" at my announcement next week. Those NSF guys will be pulling their hair out!"
I just took a piece of paper and took it around that turn onto 120th St shown in the photo above. If the BFBooster is on a transporter with steerable wheels both ends and the transporter's wheelbase is shorter than the payload, it just works, assuming utility pole removal.
$3 million for moving the ET, including through the Panama Canal.
Let's keep perspective here - new factories cost more to build than it would cost to move signs and trees...
If they build BFR at the L.A. seaport, I'm assuming they would lease space at an existing building.
If they build BFR along the Brownsville shipping channel, where real estate prices are dirt-cheap, and construction labor is also relatively cheap, that could cost less than moving BFR/BFS though the streets of L.A.
So any other potential BFR manufacturing site would just build the large structures and do the final assembly.
Quote from: darkenfast on 10/04/2017 04:39 amI just took a piece of paper and took it around that turn onto 120th St shown in the photo above. If the BFBooster is on a transporter with steerable wheels both ends and the transporter's wheelbase is shorter than the payload, it just works, assuming utility pole removal. Utility pole removal isn't cheap.
Quote from: Dave G on 10/04/2017 01:23 pmQuote from: darkenfast on 10/04/2017 04:39 amI just took a piece of paper and took it around that turn onto 120th St shown in the photo above. If the BFBooster is on a transporter with steerable wheels both ends and the transporter's wheelbase is shorter than the payload, it just works, assuming utility pole removal. Utility pole removal isn't cheap.I roughly estimate that a BFR/BFS is half a billion dollars, especially the first ones. Spending $5-10 million to be able to get it to a launch pad so they can start making money is the definition of the cost of doing business. Those costs will be paid for by the first launch.
Is it physically possible to transport a 9 m wide vechicle from the company headquarters to the nearest port? If it is so, then it is necessary to close the segments of the route for a few minutes, few times a year. Probably during night.
Quote from: RotoSequence on 10/03/2017 04:51 pmQuote from: Dave G on 10/03/2017 04:45 pmWatching this video, it seems they built the 12m test tank right next to a sea port. Anyone know where?The 12 meter tank was contracted to Janicki Industries in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. They're a composites layup specialist. SpaceX will have a learning curve building these tanks in-house.Maybe not,https://www.janicki.com/capabilities/composite-fabrication/QuoteOn-site Composite FabricationJI’s expert composite fabrication team is available for contract work at your facility.Experienced production teamsFoam, putty, carbon fiber, carbon-chop, fiberglassResin infusion, lay-up, finishingTime and cost savings NO hiring and training for your company
Quote from: Dave G on 10/03/2017 04:45 pmWatching this video, it seems they built the 12m test tank right next to a sea port. Anyone know where?The 12 meter tank was contracted to Janicki Industries in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. They're a composites layup specialist. SpaceX will have a learning curve building these tanks in-house.
Watching this video, it seems they built the 12m test tank right next to a sea port. Anyone know where?
On-site Composite FabricationJI’s expert composite fabrication team is available for contract work at your facility.Experienced production teamsFoam, putty, carbon fiber, carbon-chop, fiberglassResin infusion, lay-up, finishingTime and cost savings NO hiring and training for your company