It seems to me it's useful to see that the engines can run with normal propellants. I recall seeing some speculation that they might only be able to run with deep cryo propellants.This provides useful flexibility.
...when Falcon rockets are put through their paces between 9 and 11 p.m., the city receives payments from the California-based rocket company now aiming for Mars.This “hush” money for five years has profited a special fund to support youth baseball in McGregor, so designated by the McGregor City Council. About $440,000 later, the city christened Launch Pad Park, whose name reflects a tip of the cap to SpaceX......“I would say they have to test during those times probably less than once a month on average,” Evans said. “On a calendar year basis, the first time is $10,000, the second is $15,000, and all additional that year are $25,000.”
[Waco Tribune-Herald] SpaceX nighttime test fees pay for park upgrades in McGregorQuote...when Falcon rockets are put through their paces between 9 and 11 p.m., the city receives payments from the California-based rocket company now aiming for Mars.This “hush” money for five years has profited a special fund to support youth baseball in McGregor, so designated by the McGregor City Council. About $440,000 later, the city christened Launch Pad Park, whose name reflects a tip of the cap to SpaceX......“I would say they have to test during those times probably less than once a month on average,” Evans said. “On a calendar year basis, the first time is $10,000, the second is $15,000, and all additional that year are $25,000.”
What's happening in the cell next to the active raptor test cell? Is that assembly in the grass set to be installed there? Or was it removed?Test Stand photo in the article:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/starhopper-first-flight-starship-superheavy-updates/
Quote from: FlattestEarth on 04/04/2019 09:47 amWhat's happening in the cell next to the active raptor test cell? Is that assembly in the grass set to be installed there? Or was it removed?Test Stand photo in the article:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/starhopper-first-flight-starship-superheavy-updates/SpaceX spent a lot of money on outfitting that cell and after just a few months, torn it all out. Looks like that main platform is all that is left. It was full of electrical boxes with vast numbers of tubing and conduit runs. I wonder what its function was. Seems like a huge waste of resources.
Just stumbled over this while surfing with Google Earth over McGegor.What are these shacks?
SpaceX pursues local funding for $10 million upgrade to McGregor plantBy MIKE COPELAND [email protected] 10 hrs ago Fresh from making history by sending a manned craft to the International Space Station, SpaceX is asking Waco and McLennan County for money to grow.The rocket company launched by billionaire Elon Musk will spend $10 million on infrastructure improvements at its rocket-testing facility in McGregor. The upgrades will include “noise suppressors,” which should prove welcome to those within earshot of SpaceX’s rumbling, window-rattling rehearsals.Waco City Council and McLennan County Commissioners Court will vote Tuesday on sending SpaceX $2 million from the Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corp. fund, with each entity allocating $1 million.
SpaceX currently leases 4,280 acres and employs about 500 people in McGregor, city manager Kevin Evans told @wacotrib. The company has previously received $3 million from the city-county fund.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1413909599711907845Quote We are breaking ground soon on a second Raptor factory at SpaceX Texas test site. This will focus on volume production of Raptor 2, while California factory will make Raptor Vacuum & new, experimental designs.Edit to add:twitter.com/erdayastronaut/status/1413909805639602183?s=21QuoteAt Starbase or McGregor?https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1413910556965326850QuoteMcGregorOh. My.twitter.com/gokuaurelius/status/1413910573130018820QuoteWhat volume production are you aiming for? Quantity of raptors per year?https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1413911893316603908QuoteRoughly 800 to 1000 per year. That’s about what’s needed over ten years to create the fleet to build a self-sustaining city on Mars. City itself probably takes roughly 20 years, so hopefully it is built by ~2050.
We are breaking ground soon on a second Raptor factory at SpaceX Texas test site. This will focus on volume production of Raptor 2, while California factory will make Raptor Vacuum & new, experimental designs.
At Starbase or McGregor?
McGregor
What volume production are you aiming for? Quantity of raptors per year?
Roughly 800 to 1000 per year. That’s about what’s needed over ten years to create the fleet to build a self-sustaining city on Mars. City itself probably takes roughly 20 years, so hopefully it is built by ~2050.
Is the plan still to have an engine factory at Starbase, or has that changed now that there will be one in McGregor?
The challenges of operating at Starbase left us with no choice but to put engine production in McGregor
So Texas is going to have an orbital launch site *and* a major rocket engine factory in addition to the Starship build site. This was hard to imagine even a few years ago.
Yes. It will be the highest output & most advanced rocket engine factory in the world.
QuoteThe challenges of operating at Starbase left us with no choice but to put engine production in McGregor I wonder what challenges he is referring too.
