Author Topic: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5  (Read 338508 times)

Offline Nomadd

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #180 on: 07/02/2017 05:28 am »
 I never did see them digging trenches on the highway. I think they ran the conduits mostly through an old line. They just kept popping up out of the dirt every mile or so. Running one all the way on the south side would have been a whole different project.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #181 on: 07/02/2017 09:55 am »
I never did see them digging trenches on the highway. I think they ran the conduits mostly through an old line. They just kept popping up out of the dirt every mile or so. Running one all the way on the south side would have been a whole different project.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35425.msg1354814#msg1354814
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they'll most likely be running a mole rather than digging an open trench. much cheaper, as long as you're not digging through green fields.

Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #182 on: 07/08/2017 11:33 am »
SpaceX to receive county grant
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/article_f02989e6-637e-11e7-9744-0f6e6d7da6c7.html
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SpaceX will receive a $2.6 million grant from the Cameron County Spaceport Development Corporation after the board received its first disbursement from the Office of the Governor last week.

The funds come from the State Spaceport Trust Fund Account and are the first installment of a $13 million allocation, according to a CameronCounty press release...

Offline SPITexas

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #183 on: 07/11/2017 12:30 am »
SpaceX to receive county grant
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/article_f02989e6-637e-11e7-9744-0f6e6d7da6c7.html
Quote
SpaceX will receive a $2.6 million grant from the Cameron County Spaceport Development Corporation after the board received its first disbursement from the Office of the Governor last week.

The funds come from the State Spaceport Trust Fund Account and are the first installment of a $13 million allocation, according to a CameronCounty press release...

And what does this mean for the Boca Chica Project now? 
« Last Edit: 07/11/2017 12:35 am by SPITexas »

Offline philw1776

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #184 on: 07/11/2017 09:31 pm »
Nothing.  Funding was known and in the pipeline.
FULL SEND!!!!

Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #185 on: 07/13/2017 08:39 pm »
Cameron Co. Judge: Residents to Benefit from Space X Project


Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #186 on: 07/19/2017 10:43 am »
SpaceX in South Texas

Offline SPITexas

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #187 on: 07/19/2017 07:02 pm »
How's the Contruction on HWY 4?
Does it have to be done in August in order for SpaceX to get through easily.
« Last Edit: 07/20/2017 02:09 am by SPITexas »

Offline Nomadd

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #188 on: 07/20/2017 03:46 am »
How's the Contruction on HWY 4?
Does it have to be done in August in order for SpaceX to get through easily.
About 1 mile of westbound and 5 miles of eastbound shoulder left to reconstruct. Nobody seems to know if they'll do the final paving before or after all the construction traffic stops.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline SPITexas

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #189 on: 07/20/2017 04:43 am »
How's the Contruction on HWY 4?
Does it have to be done in August in order for SpaceX to get through easily.
About 1 mile of westbound and 5 miles of eastbound shoulder left to reconstruct. Nobody seems to know if they'll do the final paving before or after all the construction traffic stops.

Thanks so are they just Reconstructing 1 shoulder lane or Both sides? They really worked pretty fast on the road.
« Last Edit: 07/20/2017 05:03 am by SPITexas »

Offline Nomadd

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #190 on: 07/20/2017 05:36 am »


Thanks so are they just Reconstructing 1 shoulder lane or Both sides? They really worked pretty fast on the road.
Both sides. 30 miles of 8 foot wide or so strips. They dig out about a foot of sand and clay and fill it with aggregate with a metal mesh layer beneath and pavement on the top 3 inches. They're also digging up some weak sections in the center up to three feet down. Some narrow spots are being made a little wider for a consistent 34 feet. Maybe 14 foot lanes and two foot shoulders and median with rumble strips. If they come down 511, it seems like they'd need to reconstruct that between Ruben Torres and Boca Chica road.
 They say it's for the rockets, but the wheel/axle weight is just as great on the construction vehicles and there will be thousands of them. (How much concrete in a "concrete mountain"?) They're what tore the road up in the first place.
« Last Edit: 07/21/2017 05:56 pm by Nomadd »
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline SPITexas

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #191 on: 07/22/2017 06:48 am »


Thanks so are they just Reconstructing 1 shoulder lane or Both sides? They really worked pretty fast on the road.
Both sides. 30 miles of 8 foot wide or so strips. They dig out about a foot of sand and clay and fill it with aggregate with a metal mesh layer beneath and pavement on the top 3 inches. They're also digging up some weak sections in the center up to three feet down. Some narrow spots are being made a little wider for a consistent 34 feet. Maybe 14 foot lanes and two foot shoulders and median with rumble strips. If they come down 511, it seems like they'd need to reconstruct that between Ruben Torres and Boca Chica road.
 They say it's for the rockets, but the wheel/axle weight is just as great on the construction vehicles and there will be thousands of them. (How much concrete in a "concrete mountain"?) They're what tore the road up in the first place.

Nice thanks hopeing to see new things soon like the second tracking dish coming later this year and some more activity picking up behind that. December 2018 seems like a promising date to launch the rockets. Hopefully.
« Last Edit: 07/22/2017 07:04 am by SPITexas »

Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #192 on: 07/22/2017 01:43 pm »
...hoping to see new things soon like the second tracking dish coming later this year and some more activity picking up behind that. December 2018 seems like a promising date to launch the rockets. Hopefully.

Note: All news sources indicate that the dishes are being installed to track Dragon 2 in orbit.  As part of NASA's commercial crew contract, SpaceX is required to have orbital tracking capability at sites other than the cape.

Since Dragon 2 will launch from the cape, the installation of the tracking dishes doesn't seem to be related to the timetable for launches at Boca Chica.
« Last Edit: 07/22/2017 01:44 pm by Dave G »

Offline Cowboy Dan

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #193 on: 07/22/2017 02:45 pm »
Fresh drone footage by SPI Life of a portion of South Padre's Isla Blanca Park, on the eve of $30 million park renovations in anticipation of SpaceX activities at Boca Chica.

Still photo below is a screen grab of approximate area where amphitheater is expected to be built.

July 2017 Isla Blanca Park drone footage. ~~> 

January 2017 SPI Life drone footage of SpaceX Boca Chica site. ~~>



Offline SPITexas

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #194 on: 07/23/2017 12:17 am »
Fresh drone footage by SPI Life of a portion of South Padre's Isla Blanca Park, on the eve of $30 million park renovations in anticipation of SpaceX activities at Boca Chica.

Still photo below is a screen grab of approximate area where amphitheater is expected to be built.
...

Yea I see the videos all the time when people first learned Isla Blanca was gonna get renovated and also because of SpaceX arrival they weren't to happy. Hearing they can't be there next year in there spots because of the Contruction, so that's why some improvements have been taken off the board so they won't take long to finish to improvements in 2018 alone. Pretty good idea.
« Last Edit: 07/30/2017 05:59 pm by gongora »

Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #195 on: 07/23/2017 10:48 pm »
University article on Stargate construction:
http://www.utrgv.edu/umc/news/building-our-future/stargate/index.htm

The article links a rather substantial photo archive.  I've included 3 photos from the archive below.


Offline JBF

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #196 on: 07/24/2017 02:00 am »
The renders clearly show an elevator shaft.  I wonder why it hasn't been started.
"In principle, rocket engines are simple, but that’s the last place rocket engines are ever simple." Jeff Bezos

Offline SPITexas

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #197 on: 07/24/2017 02:45 am »
I can see them completeing STARGATE this year but where's the elevator. The place where's it's going to be is outside the entrance.
« Last Edit: 07/24/2017 02:51 am by SPITexas »

Offline Dave G

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Re: SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 5
« Reply #198 on: 07/24/2017 02:50 am »
The renders clearly show an elevator shaft.  I wonder why it hasn't been started.

Nomadd got a shot of the foundation (first pic).  Now it's just rebar and orange plastic around the hole (second pic).

Offline Kansan52

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