My main question was about the possibility of them using both pads at 37, for 2 towers. I just hadn't seen any talk of that, just the use of the ULA pad. I guess the proposal is to eliminate A & B and just make it one pad inside the SLC-37 footprint. Thanks for you responses.[zubenelgenubi: Threads merged.]
The SpaceX lease includes all of SCL-37 within the perimeter fence boundary, except ULA retains the DPF/DSOC, which is now the VPF/VSOC (APF/ASOC is retained for additional Vulcan use but is used for Atlas-V CCB and Centaur-IIISEC/DEC storage and offline processing for the CCB's) for Vulcan Core Stage inital storage and offline processing.This is a simplified answer.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 05/19/2024 08:56 pmThe SpaceX lease includes all of SCL-37 within the perimeter fence boundary, except ULA retains the DPF/DSOC, which is now the VPF/VSOC (APF/ASOC is retained for additional Vulcan use but is used for Atlas-V CCB and Centaur-IIISEC/DEC storage and offline processing for the CCB's) for Vulcan Core Stage inital storage and offline processing.This is a simplified answer. Is that a new acronym record for a single sentence?
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 05/19/2024 08:56 pmThe SpaceX lease includes all of SCL-37 within the perimeter fence boundary, except ULA retains the DPF/DSOC, which is now the VPF/VSOC (APF/ASOC is retained for additional Vulcan use but is used for Atlas-V CCB and Centaur-IIISEC/DEC storage and offline processing for the CCB's) for Vulcan Core Stage inital storage and offline processing.This is a simplified answer.The facility that housed the Delta IV LCC and upper stage prep Bay was the DOC, Delta Operations Center. It might be VOC (haven't heard of a change), but there never was DSOC (except on Psyche) and the former DPF (DSCS Processing Facility) in Area 59 is now the Dragon Processing Facility. The Delta IV HIF is a HIF.VPF was a Shuttle Vertical processing Facility. Atlas V had a VIF which is used by Vulcan. The ASOC (Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center) is now the Advanced Spaceflight Center. An the former SMARF is now SPOC ( Spaceflight Processing Operations Center )
twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1792539487085445136QuoteDismantled towers, environmental studies, and more launch pads—what is up with SpaceX's plans for Starship in Florida?https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/05/we-take-a-stab-at-decoding-spacexs-ever-changing-plans-for-starship-in-florida/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1792540090264379863QuoteWe’re aiming to build two towers at the Cape for Staeship, one at 39A and another tbd (we don’t have final approval yet)
Dismantled towers, environmental studies, and more launch pads—what is up with SpaceX's plans for Starship in Florida?
We’re aiming to build two towers at the Cape for Staeship, one at 39A and another tbd (we don’t have final approval yet)
This Request for Information (RFI) is in support of additional market research by the Department of the Air Force (DAF), United States Space Force (USSF), and Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) to identify potential sources to lease Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida. Due to the unique attributes of SLC-37 and the goal of maximizing assured access to space in support of national security objectives, the DAF, USSF and SLD 45 are committed to ensuring the best use of this property.The USSF seeks to issue a lease under 10 U.S.C. § 2667 to a space launch company to construct launch, recovery, and other associated space transportation infrastructure and to conduct launch and reentry activities at SLC-37. Commercial use of CCSFS real property advances U.S. space capabilities and provides launch and launch support facilities in furtherance of U.S. policy to launch national security and other DoD payloads into space. The DAF will execute a lease after completion of the required environmental planning documentation and issuance of a record of decision.
The DAF is interested in responses from companies that can demonstrate they meet the following requirements:Launching a super-heavy class vehicle The USSF does not currently have a super-heavy launch capability at CCSFS. As SLC-37 has unique attributes that can support super-heavy launch vehicles, maximizing mass to orbit per launch is a priority. For purposes of this RFI, “Super-heavy” is defined as a lift capability of greater than 50,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO). To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should provide a list of any launch vehicle with a super-heavy lift capability to LEO that you intend to launch from SLC-37 within five years of the date of this RFI.Sufficient financial maturityA launch service provider must have the financial maturity to bring the proposed launch vehicle into operations at SLC-37 within five years of the date of this RFI. This includes building the necessary pad infrastructure in accordance with Government safety, environmental, security, and other applicable requirements, and developing the launch vehicle and associated manufacturing and logistics tail. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should provide documentation of current financial resources and funding status and provide inputs on modifying, developing, reusing or demolishing the existing SLC-37 infrastructure to support super-heavy launch and recovery operations at SLC-37 within five years.Increase launch diversity at CCSFS The DAF is seeking to increase the number of launch vehicles that operate on CCSFS to provide resilience in the event of a vehicle or infrastructure anomaly, factory work stoppage, supply chain disruption, or other launch impediment. With more requests than available pads, SLD 45 seeks to bring new launch vehicles to CCSFS rather than providing second pads to any launch vehicle currently operating at CCSFS. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should address whether your intended vehicle for SLC-37 currently has a launch site on CCSFS. Maximize the benefit to the space industry and U.S. economyLaunch services are foundational to the health of the space economy; therefore, commercial operations from SLC-37 should maximize the benefit to the space industry and the U.S. economy. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should describe any unique capabilities of the intended launch vehicle (e.g., point-to-point delivery, payload return, survivability, reuse, crew transport) and the associated benefits for DoD, the space industry, and the U.S. economy. Highest technical maturitySLD 45 intends to allocate SLC-37 to a launch provider with a launch vehicle that is technically mature enough to begin operating from SLC-37 within five years to best utilize the site and ensure it does not sit idle. Categories of maturity to be considered will include: National Security Space Launch certification, successful missions, test flights, production and design. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should submit a schedule of projected milestones showing how the intended vehicle will be operational on SLC-37 within five years from the date of this RFI.Maximize productivity while limiting adverse impacts Proposed launch operations must strike an appropriate balance between maximizing productivity while also limiting adverse impact to other launch operations to capitalize on return on investment for the Government and protect the public and preserve critical national resources. The DAF will consider the impact of the launch vehicle’s proposed operations on other operations at CCSFS in order to minimize disruption to missions at other launch complexes while operating at the highest rate of productivity possible. The DAF will assess the impact of the launch vehicle’s explosive arcs and CONOPS on other CCSFS launch complexes, processing facilities, and transit routes. For vehicles that use LOX/LNG propellant, the SLD 45 Safety Office will define the explosive arcs for consistency. To demonstrate ability to meet this requirement, respondents should provide: projected launch rate, mass to orbit per launch, quantities of fuels needed, explosive arcs and hazard areas, including explosive siting maps in work or approved, mitigation alternatives for anticipated impacts to neighboring operations and transportation routes, and projected launch rates across all the company’s launch sites on CCSFS. Please address in writing your company’s interest in leasing SLC-37 and your company’s ability to meet the DAF requirements by December 12, 2024 at 1700 EST. Please email your response to Erin White, SSC SLD 45 at the following address: [email protected]Please include specific details regarding your company’s ability to fulfill each of these requirements and explain how your company will demonstrate compliance. Limit your response to 15 pages, use 12 point New Times Roman font with one inch margins on each page.The DAF is also interested in hearing industry feedback regarding its requirements, which are subject to change.
If anything a new RFI seeking SLC-37 tenants makes SLC-50 more likely: if SLC-37 for Starship were considered a done deal, there'd be little reason to re-open bids.
This Request for Information (RFI) is in support of additional market research by the Department of the Air Force (DAF), United States Space Force (USSF), and Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) to identify potential sources to lease Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida.
SpaceX would reconstruct the existing SLC-37 infrastructure to support up to 76 annual Starship/Super Heavy launches and landings annually.
The @usairforce published its Draft Environmental Impact Statement on SpaceX's proposal to use pad 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to launch Starship-Super Heavy up to 76 times annually.Public review runs now through July 28.
One thing I hadn't noticed (changed early 2025), on this page they updated the proposed actionhttps://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/proposed-action/QuoteSpaceX would reconstruct the existing SLC-37 infrastructure to support up to 76 annual Starship/Super Heavy launches and landings annually.The website still states the draft EIS is expected to be published in Spring 2025.So it could drop any day.
SPACEX NEWS: SpaceX has been given a limited entry right to prepare Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for Starship operations. Ground crews are expected to begin removing Delta IV-era structures at the launch pad this week. The U.S. Air Force and Defense Department are still evaluating and finalizing the environmental review for the full take over, but have already pointed out they found no negative impacts with the proposal.7:21 AM · Jun 10, 2025
