Quote from: Robotbeat on 05/29/2012 10:49 pmThey already integrate the first and second stages of Falcon 9 at the launch hangar. Falcon Heavy will be even bigger, so no doubt will also be integrated in the launch hangar.Just to be sure I have this right: I've heard SpaceX leases a separate payload processing site at the cape, so I assume they prep the payload there, and then transport that to the pad, where it's mated to the stages. Is this correct?
They already integrate the first and second stages of Falcon 9 at the launch hangar. Falcon Heavy will be even bigger, so no doubt will also be integrated in the launch hangar.
They haven't had any payloads other than Dragon
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 05/29/2012 02:23 pmWonder how many cores SpaceX is planning to handle at the inland preparatory facility. Maybe one F9 and one FH simultaneously.Could they get a fully assembled FH from the processing site to the launch site? Or would they have to assemble FH first stages in the launch hangar? Could they haul a fully assembled FH on a truck? Could they ship a fully assembled FH over water?
Wonder how many cores SpaceX is planning to handle at the inland preparatory facility. Maybe one F9 and one FH simultaneously.
Quote from: Jim on 05/30/2012 01:14 amThey haven't had any payloads other than DragonSpaceX Launches 6 P-PODsSpaceX made history on December 8, 2010 as the first commercial company to re-enter a spacecraft from orbiting the Earth. It was also a big day for the CubeSat community - the Falcon 9's second stage carried up six P-PODs along with the Dragon spacecraft.
Quote from: ChefPat on 05/30/2012 02:27 amQuote from: Jim on 05/30/2012 01:14 amThey haven't had any payloads other than DragonSpaceX Launches 6 P-PODsSpaceX made history on December 8, 2010 as the first commercial company to re-enter a spacecraft from orbiting the Earth. It was also a big day for the CubeSat community - the Falcon 9's second stage carried up six P-PODs along with the Dragon spacecraft.Which have absolutely brain-dead simple processing requirements (i.e. no propellants, etc).
Quote from: Robotbeat on 05/30/2012 03:02 amQuote from: ChefPat on 05/30/2012 02:27 amQuote from: Jim on 05/30/2012 01:14 amThey haven't had any payloads other than DragonSpaceX Launches 6 P-PODsSpaceX made history on December 8, 2010 as the first commercial company to re-enter a spacecraft from orbiting the Earth. It was also a big day for the CubeSat community - the Falcon 9's second stage carried up six P-PODs along with the Dragon spacecraft.Which have absolutely brain-dead simple processing requirements (i.e. no propellants, etc).First it's no payload, then, well, it's a payload, but it's not a "hard" payload. Yawn.
AFAIK highway 4 is two lanes wide. So might only capable of accommodating one single wide load trailer for LV stages only. Unless they widen the highway with an extra lane from the preparatory hangar to the ready hangar adjacent to a wildness reserve. Unlikely.
So, you close down the road and use both lanes when you need to move big objects. Nothing special there.
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/may/HQ_12-179_SpaceX_Splashdown.html HOUSTON -- SpaceX's Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 11:42 a.m. EDT a few hundred miles west of Baja California, Mexico, marking a successful end to the first mission by a commercial company to resupply the International Space Station. (snip)The Dragon capsule will be taken by boat to a port near Los Angeles, where it will be prepared for a return journey to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, for processing. Some cargo will be removed at the port in California and returned to NASA within 48 hours. The remainder will be returned to Texas with the capsule.
But launching big, loud, smelly rockets from the middle of a wildlife refuge will scare the heck out of every creature within miles...
KSC launched much larger rockets from the middle of the Merritt Island wildlife refuge and their creatures seem to be fine with it.
Environmental group starts petition drive to stop SpaceX Texas launch site:http://www.environmenttexas.org/news/txe/spacex-attempting-launch-rockets-texas-wildlife-refuge
In Spacex's case, a no action would mean Spacex would continue to launch from CCAFS at a possible slower rate (not a give). That in the eyes of those who embrace conifers is the preferred outcome of an assessment.