I think it is almost a given that the place for BFR static fires will be in Boca Chica. The first flight to orbit will (probably) be 39a.
Launching and landing BFR and BFS off of floating platforms seems unlikely to me... Now... fixed platforms offshore could in theory work... and the oil industry has shown that is possible in deep water with enough $$$$... But the logistics feeding the beast and servicing the beast... oh my...
Veering off into BFR fixed pads offshore of NYC or wherever is a bit off topic.
To get permission to do anything with BFR at the Boca Chica launch site, SpaceX would need to ask the FAA to amend the EIS, and that would require a public comment period, which we haven't seen yet.
So a fixed launch platform a few miles offshore from Boca Chica could solve a lot of problems. I'm not saying this is a sure thing, but it's definitely within the realm of possibility.
What would become of the Boca Chica base if BFR cant launch from there?
It probably can still provide payload processing but how do they get a payload from the land to the launcher?
Would they need a private harbour?
Has anybody determined the effect that BFR would have on South Padre Island? From what I understand the Raptor engine will have about 3 times the thrust of the Merlin engine. If the BFR has 31 engines versus 27 in FH that works out to 3.4 times the thrust. That will have a significant impact on Boca Chica Village and it seems like it would have some impact on SPI as well.I'm starting to wonder if SpaceX is having second thoughts about the Boca Chica location. Maybe the building that they are putting up around the crane parts is just intended to store the crane until they need it later on at another location. I find it puzzling that SpaceX has not been promoting the Boca Chica site lately.Hopefully we'll see some construction activity soon, but if nothing happens in the next year one would have to wonder what SpaceX is planning for Boca Chica.
Has anybody determined the effect that BFR would have on South Padre Island?
Any idea how we could find out if BFR can launch from Boca Chica or not? I am looking for clues here that could disprove one of the two hypotehsis:1. BFR will launch from the Boca Chica facilities SpaceX is currently building2. BFR will launch from a sea platform near Boca ChicaWhat action we can see would indicate one or the other?
* We see the a new environmentalism analysis for BFR sized rockets
Quote from: Semmel on 10/03/2017 12:49 pm* We see the a new environmentalism analysis for BFR sized rocketsFor me, this is the key.Other decisions and approvals may be done privately, behind closed doors, and we would never know.But any amendments to the EIS would require a public comment period well in advance of any construction, so this is the probably first way we would know for sure.