SpaceX VAFB landing facilities

[codav]

I mean, we can land the F9 on the White House lawn right now, right?  Does it really matter what's underneath?

No, the SAMs stationed on the roof will definitely cause a RUD

We don't know for sure, but from the webcasts and other sources we know that the landing sites establish comms with the incoming booster and the pads are painted with a radar-reflective coating. The booster would probably be able to actually land, but not with the same accuracy we see on the real landing pads. The comms/telemetry link with the pad might act as some kind of beacon used to correct the course, and the reflective paint helps the onboard radar to more accurately measure ground distance in the last few seconds before landing.

[OnWithTheShow]

pads are painted with a radar-reflective coating.

Unless the SpaceX logo itself is the radar reflective coating isnt the only pad with this treatment the original at the Cape? The other two seem to only have the logo and not the black circle.

[cppetrie]

The new pads were built with greater reflectivity in the pad material itself. That and the white paint could easily be reflective as well.

[acsawdey]

A new filing related to RTLS at VAFB and it's impact on marine mammals:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/15/2018-24977/takes-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-specified-activities-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to

The proposal is for up to 12 RTLS in the next year (the Incidental Harassment Authorization is good for one year from the date of issue).

SpaceX proposes regular employment of First Stage recovery by returning the Falcon 9 First Stage to SLC-4 West (SLC-4W) at VAFB for potential reuse, up to twelve times per year. This includes performing boost-back maneuvers (in-air) and landings of the Falcon 9 First Stage on the pad at SLC-4W.

[gongora]

The proposal is for up to 12 RTLS in the next year (the Incidental Harassment Authorization is good for one year from the date of issue).

I really wouldn't read that as intending anywhere near 12 RTLS in the next year.  I think it's more like they generally want to be able to fly up to 12 missions a year from Vandenberg, and they want to be able to RTLS as many as possible, and they want the authorization to apply to what they have planned for a while so it's easy to renew every year.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/1067340869383131136

[acsawdey]

Another "marine mammal" update for VAFB. This one appears to apply to all activities there not just SpaceX. Though there is quite a bit of discussion about F9 because of boost back and landing. One thing that is mentioned is SpaceX is proposing to use 3 engine landings.

Also in here is mention of New Glenn launching from VAFB.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/01/24/2019-00090/taking-and-importing-marine-mammals-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to-us-air-force-launches-and

[StuffOfInterest]

I happened to end up on the Wikipedia article for the VAFB landing pad a little while ago.  It jumped out at me that the pad was signed to a five year lease in February, 2015.  Nothing in the article mentions a renewal or extension of that lease.

Considering that the five years will be up in only eleven months, does anyone know for how long the lease was extended or if a new agreement was reached?

[WormPicker959]

I happened to end up on the Wikipedia article for the VAFB landing pad a little while ago.  It jumped out at me that the pad was signed to a five year lease in February, 2015.  Nothing in the article mentions a renewal or extension of that lease.

Considering that the five years will be up in only eleven months, does anyone know for how long the lease was extended or if a new agreement was reached?

I haven't heard about it, but I imagine they'd extend it. The alternative would be to dogleg out of Florida or Boca Chica, which would be less than ideal. I'm not even sure you'd be able to dogleg out of BC, eventually you have to overfly Mexico. Not sure how far downrange overflight becomes OK.

[Tomness]

I happened to end up on the Wikipedia article for the VAFB landing pad a little while ago.  It jumped out at me that the pad was signed to a five year lease in February, 2015.  Nothing in the article mentions a renewal or extension of that lease.

Considering that the five years will be up in only eleven months, does anyone know for how long the lease was extended or if a new agreement was reached?

I haven't heard about it, but I imagine they'd extend it. The alternative would be to dogleg out of Florida or Boca Chica, which would be less than ideal. I'm not even sure you'd be able to dogleg out of BC, eventually you have to overfly Mexico. Not sure how far downrange overflight becomes OK.

VAFB is for polar launches, most of their launches required landing on JRTI. So either they will extend it or use the opportunity to modify their environmental assessment to launch SuperHeavy & Starship.

[WormPicker959]

I happened to end up on the Wikipedia article for the VAFB landing pad a little while ago.  It jumped out at me that the pad was signed to a five year lease in February, 2015.  Nothing in the article mentions a renewal or extension of that lease.

Considering that the five years will be up in only eleven months, does anyone know for how long the lease was extended or if a new agreement was reached?

I haven't heard about it, but I imagine they'd extend it. The alternative would be to dogleg out of Florida or Boca Chica, which would be less than ideal. I'm not even sure you'd be able to dogleg out of BC, eventually you have to overfly Mexico. Not sure how far downrange overflight becomes OK.

VAFB is for polar launches, most of their launches required landing on JRTI. So either they will extend it or use the opportunity to modify their environmental assessment to launch SuperHeavy & Starship.

I'm aware it's for polar launches. Polar launches are possible at BC and FL, but at a cost with a dogleg. (BC is more iffy b/c of the Yucatan peninsula, I'm not sure how that factors into safety/security concerns) The AF just opened up a polar launch corridor from CCAFS last year.

[kdhilliard]

... The alternative would be to dogleg out of Florida or Boca Chica, which would be less than ideal. ...

No, StuffOfInterest's question was about the SLC-4W lease where the SpaceX LZ-4 landing zone is (which has had only one landing to date), not the SLC-4E lease where the SpaceX launch pad is (with 14 Falcon 9 launches to date), so the primary alternative is landing on JTRI (possible close to shore for those RTLS capable missions).

[WormPicker959]

... The alternative would be to dogleg out of Florida or Boca Chica, which would be less than ideal. ...

No, StuffOfInterest's question was about the SLC-4W lease where the SpaceX LZ-4 landing zone is (which has had only one landing to date), not the SLC-4E lease where the SpaceX launch pad is (with 14 Falcon 9 launches to date), so the primary alternative is landing on JTRI (possible close to shore for those RTLS capable missions).

Ah! I Thought he was talking about their entire pad operations at Vandy. My bad. They won't be landing first stages from vandy launches in BC or FL, that's for sure! ;P

[cscott]

The new pads were built with greater reflectivity in the pad material itself. That and the white paint could easily be reflective as well.

"Reflectivity" in this case is just extra rebar in the concrete AIUI.  So really pretty cheap and maintenance-free, compared to metallic paint.