Author Topic: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities  (Read 401345 times)

Offline MarvinSpace

  • Member
  • Posts: 2
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #520 on: 07/02/2022 11:54 am »
Another sighting of a launch table segment reported by Zack Golden.

https://mobile.twitter.com/CSI_Starbase/status/1540839279097692161

Note that his assessment is that this may be for the rigs or the cape, and if it is for the cape it’s running late.

Why is it “late”? The LC39A tower has all of two segments stacked, with the last one or two not even started assembling yet. All the tower segments need to be stacked, the vertical members filled with concrete, and all the commodities lines and telemetry/power cabling need to be installed and integrated. There’s plenty of time (weeks at least) before the launch table becomes the singular pacing item.

Late as in atleast 4 segments were already spotted on site in January. So its a bit suprising that 6 months later still pieces for the base structure are arriving. Start of the thread saying those images are from January https://twitter.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1511691485271724036

And here Hangar M with 4 pieces for the Table : https://twitter.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1511691883726393345

Offline Conexion Espacial

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2081
  • Liked: 3164
  • Likes Given: 2273
I publish information in Spanish about space and rockets.
www.x.com/conexionspacial

Offline Stimbergi

  • Member
  • Posts: 99
  • Liked: 269
  • Likes Given: 83
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #522 on: 07/06/2022 08:38 am »
Quote
Today July 5th was the first day in 2 years that KSC has offered the explore tour. This tour went up close to the VAB, and LC39a-b. This video focuses on LC39a.

Offline pyromatter

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 934
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 3422
  • Likes Given: 19
« Last Edit: 07/06/2022 06:40 pm by pyromatter »

Offline alugobi

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1527
  • Liked: 1586
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #524 on: 07/06/2022 07:16 pm »
That's got to be a base for a hefty water tank.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #525 on: 07/06/2022 08:30 pm »
twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1544780115292442624

Quote
Shots from our flyover this morning of #NASA Pad 39A, #SpaceX Hangar X on Roberts Rd & more. Lots of construction at the pad with 3 sections up already & if you notice in the 1st shot the Chopsticks are coming together nicely. Check my discord for many more📷 @FarryFaz @elonmusk

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1544780989330751489

Quote
Many more pics soon. Dont forget, if you like the pics hit the follow button.
« Last Edit: 07/06/2022 08:32 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline AU1.52

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 656
  • Life is like riding a bicycle - Einstein
  • Ohio, USA, AU1
  • Liked: 669
  • Likes Given: 719
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #526 on: 07/07/2022 12:30 am »
That's got to be a base for a hefty water tank.


I keep half wondering if they plan on assembling the launch table on that. Seems very close the where the launches will be to have a water tank there.

Offline RobW

Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #527 on: 07/07/2022 12:52 am »
The best part is no part: If you launch off the top of an open water tank, you don't need a launch pad, and all the deluge system water is already where you need it, so you don't need all that complicated deluge piping either!
Science fiction writer, spaceflight blogger, and unrepentant technological optimist.

Online edzieba

  • Virtual Realist
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6105
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 9330
  • Likes Given: 39
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #528 on: 07/07/2022 10:38 am »
Too high for an assembly platform for the launch ring: makes work more difficult for no benefit (crane needed to lift it anyway).

About the right diameter to receive the LH2 sphere if being repurposed for LCH4, but I can think of no good reasons to move it from where it is (and extend/divert the lines from the main pad to the new one) and would be a huge headache to try and move if even possible- and the easiest way would be to roll it on SPMTs on the existing mount anyway.

Too much structure for a ground-level water tank (just needs a single skin there, and can be constructed jack-up style as the cheapest method) and even too much structure for legs of a suspended water tower.

It even looks like too much structure for a double-walled concrete LNG silo, those can be slip-formed for cheaper than building a full height form.

There are large-diameter steel rings going up next to it (at least two separate stack visible) so could be some unorthodox tank construction method.
« Last Edit: 07/07/2022 10:45 am by edzieba »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #529 on: 07/10/2022 04:09 pm »
https://twitter.com/lolomatico3d/status/1546162371109875714

Quote
The 7th tower segment of #SpaceX´s Mechazilla at the Cape has been completed at the production site.

Lots of parts for the SQD (Ship Quick Disconnect) and the Chopsticks where also spotted (colored black).

Offline Hog

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2846
  • Woodstock
  • Liked: 1700
  • Likes Given: 6866
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #530 on: 07/12/2022 08:26 pm »
The best part is no part: If you launch off the top of an open water tank, you don't need a launch pad, and all the deluge system water is already where you need it, so you don't need all that complicated deluge piping either!
Standing water behaves much differently than water mist/droplets/streams do in this application. Much more phase change would occur in the latter.
Paul

Online Chris Bergin

Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline RobW

Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #532 on: 07/13/2022 10:19 pm »
The best part is no part: If you launch off the top of an open water tank, you don't need a launch pad, and all the deluge system water is already where you need it, so you don't need all that complicated deluge piping either!
Standing water behaves much differently than water mist/droplets/streams do in this application. Much more phase change would occur in the latter.
Absolutely. The comment was a (failed?) attempt at humor.
Science fiction writer, spaceflight blogger, and unrepentant technological optimist.

Online pilotError

  • Member
  • Posts: 49
  • Long Island
  • Liked: 41
  • Likes Given: 18
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #533 on: 07/14/2022 10:47 am »
Too high for an assembly platform for the launch ring: makes work more difficult for no benefit (crane needed to lift it anyway).

About the right diameter to receive the LH2 sphere if being repurposed for LCH4, but I can think of no good reasons to move it from where it is (and extend/divert the lines from the main pad to the new one) and would be a huge headache to try and move if even possible- and the easiest way would be to roll it on SPMTs on the existing mount anyway.

Too much structure for a ground-level water tank (just needs a single skin there, and can be constructed jack-up style as the cheapest method) and even too much structure for legs of a suspended water tower.

It even looks like too much structure for a double-walled concrete LNG silo, those can be slip-formed for cheaper than building a full height form.

There are large-diameter steel rings going up next to it (at least two separate stack visible) so could be some unorthodox tank construction method.

There's two tank sizes being built.  It looks to me like the same contruction method they used at the tank farm with an inner and outer tank.  The larger tank seems to fit nicely on that structure using the old finger on the screen method!  LOL

Offline pyromatter

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 934
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 3422
  • Likes Given: 19
« Last Edit: 07/14/2022 07:53 pm by pyromatter »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #535 on: 07/20/2022 10:01 pm »
https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1549876506188554244

Quote
SpaceX is rolling the fourth segment for the new Starship launch pad gantry toward Launch Complex 39A this evening at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Watch live:

« Last Edit: 07/20/2022 10:03 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #536 on: 07/20/2022 10:36 pm »
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1549885083032641536

Quote
The 4th segment of SpaceXs Super Heavy-Starship service gantry headed for pad 39A this evening, but the crew pulled over at the entrance to the KSC press site to wait out approaching storms; despite seeing this three times before, it's still impressive!

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #537 on: 07/21/2022 12:43 am »
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1549898691867287554

Quote
KSC VAB drive past for Section 4 of the 39A Starbase Tower.

youtube.com/watch?v=mhJRzQ…

Offline pyromatter

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 934
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 3422
  • Likes Given: 19
« Last Edit: 07/21/2022 01:22 pm by pyromatter »

Offline pyromatter

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 934
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 3422
  • Likes Given: 19
Re: SpaceX Cape 39A Starship launch/landing facilities
« Reply #539 on: 07/21/2022 02:43 pm »

 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1