Author Topic: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities  (Read 401094 times)

Online harrystranger

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #700 on: 11/19/2022 01:16 pm »
https://twitter.com/harry__stranger/status/1593945092472983557

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SpaceX has recently submitted drainage plans related to Starship infrastructure at Launch Complex 39A.

This particular page gives a good overview of the layout at each site within the pad boundaries.
I've attached the PDF for the plans and a link to the permit here :)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #701 on: 11/30/2022 02:45 pm »
https://twitter.com/harry__stranger/status/1597951243841785856

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lYesterday's perfectly clear weather over the Space Coast also allowed for some wonderful high resolution satellite imagery to be captured!

Let's start with Launch Complex 39A where SpaceX continue to make progress on Starship infrastructure: https://api.soar.earth/short/s1191r07a2

Thread below

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #702 on: 01/04/2023 07:47 pm »
https://twitter.com/csi_starbase/status/1610732985854066719

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SpaceX has begun assembling the truss sections for assembling Chopsticks onto the Pad 39A Starship Launch Tower.

Expecting to see the carriage and chopsticks transported to the Launch Complex in the near future!

📸: @SpaceflightNow

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #704 on: 01/06/2023 04:30 am »
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1611233299178872833

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SpaceX is currently rolling the carriage system for the Starship Launch Tower arms at Kennedy Space Center.

You can watch live in @NASASpaceflight's Space Coast Live livestream: nsf.live/spacecoast

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #705 on: 01/06/2023 05:57 am »
https://twitter.com/spmttracker/status/1611242981071233032

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Not really Starbase, but the carriage section of Chopsticks is currently rolling out to Launch Complex 39A!
📷:@NASASpaceflight

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #706 on: 01/06/2023 09:55 am »
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1611315418039476224

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The 39A Starship Tower Chopsticks carriage has now arrived at the launch site for installation!

nsf.live/spacecoast

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #707 on: 01/07/2023 03:03 pm »
Carriage lifted for preps. Gav is working a timelapse.
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #708 on: 01/07/2023 03:59 pm »
https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1611769182051262467

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SpaceX has rotated and lifted the Starship tower chopstick carriage upright as work continues ahead of installation!

Timelapse via our 24/7 stream: ➡ nsf.live/spacecoast

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #710 on: 01/11/2023 12:49 pm »
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1613169525079285761

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Some entertainment for Falcon Heavy on 39A, as progress is made on the Starship launch site GSE.

nsf.live/spacecoast

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Offline DanClemmensen

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #713 on: 01/13/2023 12:13 am »
Shorter chopsticks:The chopsticks cannot "reach out" as far. Is the OLM closer to the tower, or does this imply the returning SH or SS must land more accurately (I.e., cannot be caught further away from the tower)?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #714 on: 01/13/2023 12:47 am »
Shorter chopsticks:The chopsticks cannot "reach out" as far. Is the OLM closer to the tower, or does this imply the returning SH or SS must land more accurately (I.e., cannot be caught further away from the tower)?
The arms at Starbase sag. The tradeoff to making the length shorter is reduced sag, transferred stress and loads to the carriage and tower in both its empty parked limped state and in the operational tensioned state with and without loads. The additional tradeoff is reduced collisional risks. They will learn with this pad if the tradeoffs will payoff compared to the modelling, subscale tests and computational analysis conducted. If it pays off the Starbase Chopsticks might be either replaced or modifed.
« Last Edit: 01/13/2023 12:50 am by russianhalo117 »

Offline eriblo

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #715 on: 01/13/2023 10:48 am »
It is likely that the only benefit from longer arms is that a catch can occur slightly further from the tower (if the arms can even handle that structurally.

I do not think there is any benefit in having a "landing zone" that is ~20m deep as I think it will only be a couple of meters wide. As far as we know the booster will approach from more or less straight above.

A Starship catch on the other hand might benefit from an asymmetric landing zone if you want to absolutely minimize landing propellant. The cost for a fully stabilized approach would however only be a few extra tonnes.
« Last Edit: 01/13/2023 10:55 am by eriblo »

Offline catdlr

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #716 on: 01/13/2023 11:09 am »
It is likely that the only benefit from longer arms is that a catch can occur slightly further from the tower (if the arms can even handle that structurally.

I do not think there is any benefit in having a "landing zone" that is ~20m deep as I think it will only be a couple of meters wide. As far as we know the booster will approach from more or less straight above.

A Starship catch on the other hand might benefit from an asymmetric landing zone if you want to absolutely minimize landing propellant. The cost for a fully stabilized approach would however only be a few extra tonnes.

I was under the impression that NASA did not want SpaceX to use 39A for any catching/landing. Catching/Landing had to be performed at another site or modify LZ1/LZ2 with a another tower.
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Offline edzieba

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #717 on: 01/13/2023 11:13 am »
A catch further out on longer arms also means the arms need to rotate less for the same lateral movement. e.g. if you wanted the arms to clear the vehicle by 1m on each side until the catch points are near the rails and then close in the final 1m (+/- any deviation), then doubling the arm length halves the angle through which the arm pivot needs to move.

It is likely that the only benefit from longer arms is that a catch can occur slightly further from the tower (if the arms can even handle that structurally.

I do not think there is any benefit in having a "landing zone" that is ~20m deep as I think it will only be a couple of meters wide. As far as we know the booster will approach from more or less straight above.

A Starship catch on the other hand might benefit from an asymmetric landing zone if you want to absolutely minimize landing propellant. The cost for a fully stabilized approach would however only be a few extra tonnes.

I was under the impression that NASA did not want SpaceX to use 39A for any catching/landing. Catching/Landing had to be performed at another site or modify LZ1/LZ2 with a another tower.
No such limitation has ever been imposed, at least in any public filings. SpaceX themselves were rumoured to be landing Starship and/or the booster at a separate site back when both vehicles had lending legs, but that was also several years and design revisions ago.

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Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #718 on: 01/19/2023 04:54 pm »
https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1616131824652107777

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SpaceX workers at LC-39A are lifting the first chopstick arm for attachment to the carriage.

nsf.live/spacecoast

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