SpaceX Eastern Range Landing Facilities

[Nehkara]

Latest image dated July 16:

#DEIMOS2 captured new developments at Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 1, where @SpaceX is expanding its facilities. #ChangeDetection #SpaceX #DragonSpacecraft

https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/1022745963734228992

Looks like they are getting ready to build a third landing pad.  Any guesses on which FH mission that would be for?

If you’re talking about the area that appears to have been cleared to the left of the original landing pad, that is a new building going in, not a new landing pad. If memory serves it’s a dragon processing facility, but it’s been many months since the site plan was updated so i could be remembering it’s purpose incorrectly.

This is correct from what I've read.  It's a Dragon facility, not a pad.

[AnalogMan]

Latest image dated July 16:

#DEIMOS2 captured new developments at Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 1, where @SpaceX is expanding its facilities. #ChangeDetection #SpaceX #DragonSpacecraft

https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/1022745963734228992

Looks like they are getting ready to build a third landing pad.  Any guesses on which FH mission that would be for?

If you’re talking about the area that appears to have been cleared to the left of the original landing pad, that is a new building going in, not a new landing pad. If memory serves it’s a dragon processing facility, but it’s been many months since the site plan was updated so i could be remembering it’s purpose incorrectly.

This is correct from what I've read.  It's a Dragon facility, not a pad.

See plans from earlier in this thread:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36513.msg1716623#msg1716623

[rpapo]

In any case, AFAIK, a Falcon Heavy with total RTLS can hardly carry more to orbit than a Falcon 9 with RTLS, so why would they ever need three landing pads?  Not simply because the original concept video did.

[envy887]

In any case, AFAIK, a Falcon Heavy with total RTLS can hardly carry more to orbit than a Falcon 9 with RTLS, so why would they ever need three landing pads?  Not simply because the original concept video did.

FH with 3x RTLS can probably put about as much payload to GTO as F9 fully expended.

[speedevil]

In any case, AFAIK, a Falcon Heavy with total RTLS can hardly carry more to orbit than a Falcon 9 with RTLS, so why would they ever need three landing pads?

Unless the second stage was significantly stretched.

(about stretching stage 2) under consideration. We’ve already stretched the upper stage once. Easiest part of the rocket to change. Fairing 2, flying soon, also has a slightly larger diameter. Could make fairing much longer if need be & will if BFR takes longer than expected.

[gongora]

I was looking at various places to find the environmental assessments for the SpaceX projects.

The SpaceX landing area environmental assessment can be found at
Patrick AFB:
https://www.patrick.af.mil/About-Us/Environmental/
Of course the pictures in the environmental assessment don't match the site plans that were posted earlier in the thread, but with SpaceX things usually change.

Various other SpaceX environment assessments can be found at
KSC:
https://environmental.ksc.nasa.gov/EnvironmentalPlanning/NEPA

FAA:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/
 > Look under "Experimental" and "Launch Operator" sections

Regulations.gov theoretically should theoretically have most of them, but maybe you need to know what words to search on for a particular document to actually find it.  You can find some of them by searching for Space Exploration Technologies:
https://www.regulations.gov/searchResults?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&s=%22space%2Bexploration%2Btechnologies%22
or sometimes just SpaceX:
https://www.regulations.gov/searchResults?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&s=spacex&fp=true&dct=FR%2BPR%2BN%2BO

If you've found other places with this sort of document please let us know.

[cscott]

This is correct from what I've read.  It's a Dragon facility, not a pad.

See plans from earlier in this thread:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36513.msg1716623#msg1716623

Thanks for the reference.  I've attached the more legible drawing from the above.  So I was clearly wrong about a third pad --- but on the other hand, the sat images seem to clearly show that they've started building the static fire stand at LZ-1.

[docmordrid]

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/1026462841992347649?s=19

James Dean ✔ @flatoday_jdean
 KSC reviewing state proposals for new Launch Complex 48, Landing Zone 2: https://on.flatoday.com/2M4tNry
9:39 AM - Aug 6, 2018

As NSF previously reported, LC-48 would be for small launchers; Boeing's Phantom Express spaceplane (aka DARPA's XS-1), Electron, Firefly etc.

LZ-2 would be three (3!) landing pads between LC-39B and Playalinda Beach,

(map location image is my understanding of media reports)

[Comga]

A few pictures I took of the move this morning.

Wait
From fourth photo, the booster attachment fixture is powered by solar panels, and commercial looking ones at that?
What a Tesla/Solar City solution!
Anyone else would have strung a 200' power cable to it.

edit: corrected the count

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1139884315037356033

RIP Dragon test stand. You can also see the stands that landed boosters are processed on to remove or retract the legs. It appears there is a lot of activity getting ready for STP-2. Views of LZ-1 and LZ-2 from the ocean. #SpaceX #STP2

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1171856666092085248

And here is the current view of the Crew Dragon test stand near LZ-1.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/baserunner0723/status/1189609862755471360

A new permit submitted by SpaceX shows some new concrete foundations being constructed near LZ-1. I personally think it may be a backup/replacement Dragon test site but it could also potentially be for a crane for Super Heavy and Starship. @NASASpaceflight @EmreKelly

https://twitter.com/baserunner0723/status/1189616123928567809

The square foundation as marked is roughly 35ft by 35ft

[enbandi]

The mentioned permit application available here.

[ZachS09]

Why did SpaceX remove the black paint from LZ-1 (which resembled the same logo on OCISLY)?

[edzieba]

Why did SpaceX remove the black paint from LZ-1 (which resembled the same logo on OCISLY)?

IIRC: Original black paint was radar-reflective paint to assist with booster's radar altimeter. When the concrete of the pad was resurfaced reflectors were embedded within the concrete, so the paint was no longer required.

[ZachS09]

Why did SpaceX remove the black paint from LZ-1 (which resembled the same logo on OCISLY)?

IIRC: Original black paint was radar-reflective paint to assist with booster's radar altimeter. When the concrete of the pad was resurfaced reflectors were embedded within the concrete, so the paint was no longer required.

To be honest, I enjoyed seeing the black version of the SpaceX logo on LZ-1 because it was more flashy to me than the white version.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1226163458120601600

The things you see when you are riding the ocean waves. The view of @SpaceX LZ-1 revealed something is afoot. It appears that there may be a new and improved test stand located north of LZ-2 near the coast. Perhaps Merlin and Raptor tests will happen here?

[enbandi]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1226163458120601600

The things you see when you are riding the ocean waves. The view of @SpaceX LZ-1 revealed something is afoot. It appears that there may be a new and improved test stand located north of LZ-2 near the coast. Perhaps Merlin and Raptor tests will happen here?

Mistery in many ways.

The stand like a Starship build and test stand with 2 rings. Like how they tested the Bopper. For similar testing LZ could be a good location.

But there are four of the new ASDS thrusters on the right.

And, based on permitting the only known activity should be south of LZ2, and west to LZ1 in that area.

[su27k]

SpaceX beginning final assembly of Starship SN1 ahead of roll to the pad

A Starship-like tank section appears to be under construction near the landing zone. It is understood that SpaceX plans to build a Raptor test stand at the facility.

Not sure I understand the rationale behind this, why test Raptor at Florida?

[ChickeNES]

SpaceX beginning final assembly of Starship SN1 ahead of roll to the pad

A Starship-like tank section appears to be under construction near the landing zone. It is understood that SpaceX plans to build a Raptor test stand at the facility.

Not sure I understand the rationale behind this, why test Raptor at Florida?

Well, when and if they build out the Roberts Road location, I suppose they expect MacGregor to be a bottleneck?