SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 12

[edzieba]

I don’t pay close attention to flyover videos or anything, but have we seen any signs of foundation work for a second launch mount, or any pre-staged steel cylinder components for OLM legs on-site?

No foundations, earthworks, land reclamation, or boundary marker movements as of 2 days ago.

[Hyperborealis]

I don’t pay close attention to flyover videos or anything, but have we seen any signs of foundation work for a second launch mount, or any pre-staged steel cylinder components for OLM legs on-site?

Where would SpaceX put it? The earlier site expansion plans are on hold. If SpaceX moves static fire testing to Massey's, then the suborbital area becomes available be turned into a full launch site.

[rsdavis9]

Hmmm...
No launch pad stool?
How about a catch only tower?

[MoodyBlues]

maybe gonna raise the tower one section, so they can attach the HSR to the bottom of SS, and not hafta use a crane. also prepares for when they do the stretch version of SS.

[abaddon]

I don’t pay close attention to flyover videos or anything, but have we seen any signs of foundation work for a second launch mount, or any pre-staged steel cylinder components for OLM legs on-site?

Where would SpaceX put it? The earlier site expansion plans are on hold. If SpaceX moves static fire testing to Massey's, then the suborbital area becomes available be turned into a full launch site.

I think you have answered your own question.  It is really the only plausible answer, other than they want replacement tower segments on site in case the tower is damaged or destroyed in a pre-flight or early flight mishap.  That seems unlikely to be the motivation to me.

[ehb]

Hmmm...
No launch pad stool?
How about a catch only tower?

That's what came to my mind also, initially build enough to test catching without risking the primary.
Once catching fully vetted, finish it off.
Minimize cost risk.

[DanClemmensen]

Hmmm...
No launch pad stool?
How about a catch only tower?

That's what came to my mind also, initially build enough to test catching without risking the primary.
Once catching fully vetted, finish it off.
Minimize cost risk.

It's not just for test. In full operation, there are twice as many catches as launches, and while the booster catch is tightly coupled to the launch (happens as part of the launch timeline) the SS catch is decoupled and has time constraints based on the orbit. They might even choose to use a shorter tower for SS catch-only.

[Hyperborealis]

Right now SpaceX is space-constrained and capacity-constrained. Until they have more capacity, it doesn't make sense, it seems to me, to use available space for a more limited range of use cases.

[chopsticks]

I really wish this catch only tower idea would die.

[ehb]

I really wish this catch only tower idea would die.

To clarify - my thought was a full launch setup, but only initially build out what's needed to catch.

[meekGee]

Hmmm...
No launch pad stool?
How about a catch only tower?

That's what came to my mind also, initially build enough to test catching without risking the primary.
Once catching fully vetted, finish it off.
Minimize cost risk.

It's not just for test. In full operation, there are twice as many catches as launches, and while the booster catch is tightly coupled to the launch (happens as part of the launch timeline) the SS catch is decoupled and has time constraints based on the orbit. They might even choose to use a shorter tower for SS catch-only.

This.  It's self-evident, yet still somehow controversial.

Also, booster catches will at some point get recycled to quick turn around launches (no offloading).  Ships, not so quickly.

[Robotbeat]

What if it’s just as cheap as renting a crane to build a tower for integrating on the suborbital stand, so they’re building a tower so they don’t need as many cranes.

…with the idea they can use it for launch later on.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1725921599575015627

First look at stage zero post Starship IFT 2!

Join us during Starbase Weekly livestream to discuss today's amazing Starship flight and more aerial images of the pad!

12Pm Cst Livestream link:
youtube.com/watch?v=kUtttp…

40mp image download gallery at patreon.com/RGVAerial

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/starshipgazer/status/1725905891470242094

First look at the launch mount.

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/starshipgazer/status/1725906845510799750

Few more post launch

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1725949574567600283

Starship IFT-1 vs IFT-2

[Ben Baley]

Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/rgvaerialphotos/status/1725921599575015627

First look at stage zero post Starship IFT 2!

Join us during Starbase Weekly livestream to discuss today's amazing Starship flight and more aerial images of the pad!

12Pm Cst Livestream link:
youtube.com/watch?v=kUtttp…

40mp image download gallery at patreon.com/RGVAerial

What I find very interesting is the colour difference between the different patches of concrete, im surprised there's such a distinction.

[Zed_Noir]

.....
What I find very interesting is the colour difference between the different patches of concrete, im surprised there's such a distinction.

Think it depends on how much non-vaporized water comes into contact with the concrete to produce a water strain.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1726328010499051579

Just inspected the Starship launch pad and it is in great condition!

No refurbishment needed to the water-cooled steel plate for next launch.

Congrats to @Spacex team & contractors for engineering & building such a robust system so rapidly!

[catdlr]

Starship Aftermath: POV of Pad After Launch from Dunes, IFT-3 in Dec?  (Ellie in Space)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1727353896740213136

Following Starship Flight Test 2 launch on November 18, the orbital launch mount still stands, and work has resumed at a frantic pace throughout Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

🎥 Video from Mary (@bocachicagal), Jack (@theJackBeyer), Sean (@SeanKD_Photos), and Starbase Live.
✂️ Edited by Thomas (@_thomashayden).