Uninformed guess that the building at the bottom of site #2 is a high bay, given the depth of its shadow as compared with other shorter buildings on the site. High aspect ratio, so maybe for processing/storing stages?
Check out the first few pages of the original McGregor Testing Update thread:http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28332.0My OP is a little out of date now, but some of is still the same.
I believe that the "Unidentified New Construction 1" is the SuperDraco test facilities.
Quote from: Lars_J on 07/19/2013 10:08 pmI believe that the "Unidentified New Construction 1" is the SuperDraco test facilities.corrodedNut's first post in the other McGregor thread (see above) marks that as a Grasshopper pad, and that seems more likely to me as it it's near the other GH pad and has a similar shape. He has the Super Draco test site marked at a different location.
The new, large hangar at the southern end of the campus (Unidentified New Construction 2) is almost exactly the same size as the hangar at SLC-4E Vandenberg, so I speculate that it is for FH integration, even though it is somewhat far from the new FH test stand.
Quote from: corrodedNut on 07/20/2013 12:51 pmThe new, large hangar at the southern end of the campus (Unidentified New Construction 2) is almost exactly the same size as the hangar at SLC-4E Vandenberg, so I speculate that it is for FH integration, even though it is somewhat far from the new FH test stand.Whatever the large hanger is for, it went up rapidly in 2012. The attached pictures show bare dirt on November 2, 2011 and an externally complete hangar on December 12, 2012.
Quote from: ChileVerde on 07/20/2013 01:41 pmQuote from: corrodedNut on 07/20/2013 12:51 pmThe new, large hangar at the southern end of the campus (Unidentified New Construction 2) is almost exactly the same size as the hangar at SLC-4E Vandenberg, so I speculate that it is for FH integration, even though it is somewhat far from the new FH test stand.Whatever the large hanger is for, it went up rapidly in 2012. The attached pictures show bare dirt on November 2, 2011 and an externally complete hangar on December 12, 2012. And a nice, wide road coming out of both ends, with large radius turns.
FH
They also paved a larger car parking area.
Looking at this UNC1, I have a puzzlement. The facility itself looks like it could well be a two-cell engine test stand. But what's that large leaf-shaped scar on the ground to the west of it? I first thought it was just where grass and other plantae had been burned off during a test, but looking at the December 2012 GE image and the previous one leaves me scratching my head a bit. The area doesn't seem to be quite aligned with the axis of the cells, the ground looks broken up, and there are several largish things in the area which might or might not have been there previously.
Construction Area 1; A new launch pad. Using both the shadow of the tower in the construction area and the shadow of a nearby water tower, I figured the tower in the construction area is much to compact and tall to be a test stand. The water tower for noise suppression/fire suppression is a logical outgrowth there. The road leading to the new construction is much more suited to being a tow road for a rocket than for test articles.Just a thought...Jason
Quote from: Lars_J on 07/19/2013 10:08 pmI believe that the "Unidentified New Construction 1" is the SuperDraco test facilities.Looking at this UNC1, I have a puzzlement. The facility itself looks like it could well be a two-cell engine test stand. But what's that large leaf-shaped scar on the ground to the west of it? I first thought it was just where grass and other plantae had been burned off during a test, but looking at the December 2012 GE image and the previous one leaves me scratching my head a bit. The area doesn't seem to be quite aligned with the axis of the cells, the ground looks broken up, and there are several largish things in the area which might or might not have been there previously.
Also, y'all ain't from the country...the round marks visible throughout the facility are probably just decomposed round-bales. There are seven fresh ones in the top photo.
Quote from: ChileVerde on 07/22/2013 08:52 pmQuote from: Lars_J on 07/19/2013 10:08 pmI believe that the "Unidentified New Construction 1" is the SuperDraco test facilities.Looking at this UNC1, I have a puzzlement. The facility itself looks like it could well be a two-cell engine test stand. But what's that large leaf-shaped scar on the ground to the west of it? I first thought it was just where grass and other plantae had been burned off during a test, but looking at the December 2012 GE image and the previous one leaves me scratching my head a bit. The area doesn't seem to be quite aligned with the axis of the cells, the ground looks broken up, and there are several largish things in the area which might or might not have been there previously.Also, y'all ain't from the country...the round marks visible throughout the facility are probably just decomposed round-bales.
On their side? and almost 15m in diameter? (and what are those 7 things in the middle)
I recall reading that there are two cells at the super-draco stand.Also, y'all ain't from the country...the round marks visible throughout the facility are probably just decomposed round-bales. There are seven fresh ones in the top photo.
While I find it strange that one might feed a cow down range of a Hydrazine rocket test facility,
Not so much to revive a long dead thread, but because this is perhaps the best place to post this article link:Waco Tribune Article
The article is redacted/behind paywall but there's a comical computer reading of it on YouTube.
That's odd. I'm not a subscriber, and yet didn't get any complaints to my reading it. Perhaps because I use AdBlocker Plus. On Chrome.
Quote from: rpapo on 07/28/2018 08:07 pmThat's odd. I'm not a subscriber, and yet didn't get any complaints to my reading it. Perhaps because I use AdBlocker Plus. On Chrome.I get an "Unavailable due to legal reasons" when I try to view the article, but I can see it with a proxy.
>California-based SpaceX needs land for its activities here, so it pays McGregor almost $500,000 annually to lease more than 4,000 acres on the city’s outskirts. That accounts for a ninth of McGregor’s $4.5 million general fund budget, City Manager Kevin Evans said.Asked about potential budget challenges without SpaceX, Evans replied, “We don’t even talk about that.”>“It’s definitely a culture shock, but in a good way,” Derrick said. “Most have come from the aerospace industry, Boeing, for example, and from bigger cities. They are excited about having a nice home at a reasonable price. If they are from LA, they are in heaven. Most are in their early 30s, and like other young people, they enjoy visiting new restaurants popping up around town.”>
There has been some construction in the last few months.
Now that we know what the BFS engine cluster looks like - does the new test-stand size make sense?
Quote from: meekGee on 09/15/2018 01:45 amNow that we know what the BFS engine cluster looks like - does the new test-stand size make sense?As though this is the final iteration.
Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 09/15/2018 02:02 amQuote from: meekGee on 09/15/2018 01:45 amNow that we know what the BFS engine cluster looks like - does the new test-stand size make sense?As though this is the final iteration. For this iteration (9m) of BFS, I'd guess yes... It feels right, like F9 1.1 did.But yeah, there will be at least 4 variants, though hopefully with the same back end ...-----ABCD: Always Be Counting Down
But yeah, there will be at least 4 variants, though hopefully with the same back end ...
Officials sign agreement to give SpaceX economic incentives for expanding to Coryell Countyhttp://www.kxxv.com/story/39161990/officials-sign-agreement-to-give-spacex-economic-incentives-for-expanding-to-coryell-county
McGregor spans two counties, and the land SpaceX is leasing from McGregor spans those two counties. This agreement rewards them for building new stuff on the Coryell side of their property.
What is at this location? Is it a test stand?
Quote from: Nydoc on 12/14/2018 08:01 amWhat is at this location? Is it a test stand?Here is an aerial photo, taken and published by SpaceX and annotated by Zucal. The area in question is labeled 13/14 in the image. It's the test site where they test all Merlin engines. Tim Dodd posted some photos in Falcon Heavy Static Fire article (3rd image).
Quote from: codav on 12/14/2018 01:13 pmQuote from: Nydoc on 12/14/2018 08:01 amWhat is at this location? Is it a test stand?Here is an aerial photo, taken and published by SpaceX and annotated by Zucal. The area in question is labeled 13/14 in the image. It's the test site where they test all Merlin engines. Tim Dodd posted some photos in Falcon Heavy Static Fire article (3rd image).The area Nydoc circled is just out of frame to the right on the annotated image.
It seems to me it's useful to see that the engines can run with normal propellants. I recall seeing some speculation that they might only be able to run with deep cryo propellants.This provides useful flexibility.
...when Falcon rockets are put through their paces between 9 and 11 p.m., the city receives payments from the California-based rocket company now aiming for Mars.This “hush” money for five years has profited a special fund to support youth baseball in McGregor, so designated by the McGregor City Council. About $440,000 later, the city christened Launch Pad Park, whose name reflects a tip of the cap to SpaceX......“I would say they have to test during those times probably less than once a month on average,” Evans said. “On a calendar year basis, the first time is $10,000, the second is $15,000, and all additional that year are $25,000.”
[Waco Tribune-Herald] SpaceX nighttime test fees pay for park upgrades in McGregorQuote...when Falcon rockets are put through their paces between 9 and 11 p.m., the city receives payments from the California-based rocket company now aiming for Mars.This “hush” money for five years has profited a special fund to support youth baseball in McGregor, so designated by the McGregor City Council. About $440,000 later, the city christened Launch Pad Park, whose name reflects a tip of the cap to SpaceX......“I would say they have to test during those times probably less than once a month on average,” Evans said. “On a calendar year basis, the first time is $10,000, the second is $15,000, and all additional that year are $25,000.”
What's happening in the cell next to the active raptor test cell? Is that assembly in the grass set to be installed there? Or was it removed?Test Stand photo in the article:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/starhopper-first-flight-starship-superheavy-updates/
Quote from: FlattestEarth on 04/04/2019 09:47 amWhat's happening in the cell next to the active raptor test cell? Is that assembly in the grass set to be installed there? Or was it removed?Test Stand photo in the article:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/starhopper-first-flight-starship-superheavy-updates/SpaceX spent a lot of money on outfitting that cell and after just a few months, torn it all out. Looks like that main platform is all that is left. It was full of electrical boxes with vast numbers of tubing and conduit runs. I wonder what its function was. Seems like a huge waste of resources.
Just stumbled over this while surfing with Google Earth over McGegor.What are these shacks?
SpaceX pursues local funding for $10 million upgrade to McGregor plantBy MIKE COPELAND [email protected] 10 hrs ago Fresh from making history by sending a manned craft to the International Space Station, SpaceX is asking Waco and McLennan County for money to grow.The rocket company launched by billionaire Elon Musk will spend $10 million on infrastructure improvements at its rocket-testing facility in McGregor. The upgrades will include “noise suppressors,” which should prove welcome to those within earshot of SpaceX’s rumbling, window-rattling rehearsals.Waco City Council and McLennan County Commissioners Court will vote Tuesday on sending SpaceX $2 million from the Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corp. fund, with each entity allocating $1 million.
SpaceX currently leases 4,280 acres and employs about 500 people in McGregor, city manager Kevin Evans told @wacotrib. The company has previously received $3 million from the city-county fund.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1413909599711907845Quote We are breaking ground soon on a second Raptor factory at SpaceX Texas test site. This will focus on volume production of Raptor 2, while California factory will make Raptor Vacuum & new, experimental designs.Edit to add:twitter.com/erdayastronaut/status/1413909805639602183?s=21QuoteAt Starbase or McGregor?https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1413910556965326850QuoteMcGregorOh. My.twitter.com/gokuaurelius/status/1413910573130018820QuoteWhat volume production are you aiming for? Quantity of raptors per year?https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1413911893316603908QuoteRoughly 800 to 1000 per year. That’s about what’s needed over ten years to create the fleet to build a self-sustaining city on Mars. City itself probably takes roughly 20 years, so hopefully it is built by ~2050.
We are breaking ground soon on a second Raptor factory at SpaceX Texas test site. This will focus on volume production of Raptor 2, while California factory will make Raptor Vacuum & new, experimental designs.
At Starbase or McGregor?
McGregor
What volume production are you aiming for? Quantity of raptors per year?
Roughly 800 to 1000 per year. That’s about what’s needed over ten years to create the fleet to build a self-sustaining city on Mars. City itself probably takes roughly 20 years, so hopefully it is built by ~2050.
Is the plan still to have an engine factory at Starbase, or has that changed now that there will be one in McGregor?
The challenges of operating at Starbase left us with no choice but to put engine production in McGregor
So Texas is going to have an orbital launch site *and* a major rocket engine factory in addition to the Starship build site. This was hard to imagine even a few years ago.
Yes. It will be the highest output & most advanced rocket engine factory in the world.
QuoteThe challenges of operating at Starbase left us with no choice but to put engine production in McGregor I wonder what challenges he is referring too.
I suspect they have already drained the pool of skilled technical workforce at Brownsville. It won't be just stainless steel welders at Starbase. I saw (I think in minutes of the Brownsville Harbour) mention of setting up a trade school for stainless steel welding! OK different skillset to manufacture Raptors... still, its skilled technicians rather than rocket engine engineers that SX will have to recruit.Anyway if every Raptor will be tested on the stand... that's McGregor's bread-and-butter, whereas it is specifically restricted at BC/Starbase.
When the colorful, controversial CEO of SpaceX began tweeting over the weekend that he would place a rocket-building plant next to his rocket-testing plant in McGregor, some locals thought it was simply Elon Musk being Elon Musk.McGregor and McLennan County officials said they began to hear more rumblings than usual from SpaceX about six months ago.Musk reportedly had more big plans for McGregor as he laid the groundwork for spaceflights to Mars. The buzz went silent until Saturday, when Musk launched his Twitter barrage.
Area leaders: SpaceX rockets could be built in McGregor by year's endQuoteWhen the colorful, controversial CEO of SpaceX began tweeting over the weekend that he would place a rocket-building plant next to his rocket-testing plant in McGregor, some locals thought it was simply Elon Musk being Elon Musk.McGregor and McLennan County officials said they began to hear more rumblings than usual from SpaceX about six months ago.Musk reportedly had more big plans for McGregor as he laid the groundwork for spaceflights to Mars. The buzz went silent until Saturday, when Musk launched his Twitter barrage.
The stage is set for construction of the Raptor2 engine factory in McGregor, TX
Phase I will require the company to invest in $100 million in real and personal property improvements by June 30, 2024, along with a minimum of 250 new full-time jobs by June 30, 2025.
Phase II will require the company to invest another $50 million in real and personal property improvements by June 30, 2025, along with a minimum of 150 new full-time jobs and Phase I facility investment by June 30, 2026.
Flying over SpaceX in McGregor, TX with pilot Gary Blair this evening. Raptor site had both a sea-level and vacuum Raptor on the test stand.