SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 1

[Zond]

The FAA is preparing an EIS to analyze the potential environmental impacts of SpaceX’s proposal to launch orbital and suborbital launch vehicles from a private site in Cameron County in southern Texas. The EIS will consider the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and reasonable alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. The successful completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA would issue launch licenses and/or experimental permits to SpaceX. The project must also meet all FAA safety, risk, and indemnification requirements.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2012-08556.pdf

As part of the Proposed Action, SpaceX proposes to construct a vertical launch area and a control center area. The proposed vertical launch area site is currently undeveloped and is located directly adjacent to the eastern terminus of Texas State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard) and approximately 3 miles north of the Mexican border on the Gulf Coast. It is located approximately 5 miles south of Port Isabel and South Padre Island. At the vertical launch area, the new facilities required would include: an integration- and processing-hangar, a launch pad and stand with its associated flame duct, propellant storage and handling areas, a workshop and office area, and a warehouse for parts storage.

Approximate location

[mr. mark]

Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from a Texas launch site. There you go, I guess that was the answer we were waiting for as far as a third launch site. I'm sure this will be breaking news in the Texas media.

[LegendCJS]

Reading between the lines of the pdf, I think the primary motivation for this launch site is to create a safe test area for grasshopper and other suborbital research derivatives.

Being similar to the F9 first stage, the infrastructure required for grasshopper tests is probably pretty similar to a full launch complex anyway, so laying the groundwork for full scale launchers later on is probably just an investment for the future.

Grasshopper or its successors will have significant range. I think everyone would prefer that it is tested out over the gulf of Mexico where any mishap is a whole lot safer than over land.  This Texas coastal site allows SpaceX to do this.

I'd conclude that actually launching F9 and F9H from Texas is an afterthought for the time being.

[Jim]

Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from a Texas launch site. There you go, I guess that was the answer we were waiting for as far as a third launch site. I'm sure this will be breaking news in the Texas media.

You are overblowing this.  It is just an assessment.

[Hauerg]

Reading the pdf I agree that this is about Grasshopper. BUT I would not call the F9/FH part an afterthought. Seems to be fully orbital infrastructure from the start.
But it is also clear that Grasshopper will fly from this site only.

[Hauerg]

Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from a Texas launch site. There you go, I guess that was the answer we were waiting for as far as a third launch site. I'm sure this will be breaking news in the Texas media.

You are overblowing this.  It is just an assessment.

So how many assessments did SpaceX have that were not followed by "action"?

[notherspacexfan]

You are overblowing this.  It is just an assessment.

So how many assessments did SpaceX have that were not followed by "action"?

They did an environmental assessment for flying the Falcon 9 from Kwajalein.

 

[butters]

Should be nice launch views from South Padre Island.

[JWag]

This has to have been looked at before by other entities.  Was there a consensus on how Range Safety would be handled, and by whom?

[Jim]

This has to have been looked at before by other entities.  Was there a consensus on how Range Safety would be handled, and by whom?

By Spacex, it is their launch site.  They just have to follow FAA rules.

[Jim]

You are overblowing this.  It is just an assessment.

So how many assessments did SpaceX have that were not followed by "action"?

They did an environmental assessment for flying the Falcon 9 from Kwajalein.

Falcon 1 from SLC-3.

Then there is Falcon 5, Falcon-1E.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy from a Texas launch site. There you go, I guess that was the answer we were waiting for as far as a third launch site. I'm sure this will be breaking news in the Texas media.

You are overblowing this.  It is just an assessment.

So how many assessments did SpaceX have that were not followed by "action"?

Uh, Wallops.

[A_M_Swallow]

Reading the pdf I agree that this is about Grasshopper. BUT I would not call the F9/FH part an afterthought. Seems to be fully orbital infrastructure from the start.
But it is also clear that Grasshopper will fly from this site only.

The document mentions a capsule but does not mention passengers, so for the moment this is cargo only.

[go4mars]

But it is also clear that Grasshopper will fly from this site only.

I assume you mean above 11500 feet.  They are planning to do flights from MacGregor with Grasshopper that go up to that height. 

It also says a variety of suborbital vehicles.  Not limited to just grasshopper. 
"Up to 12 per year."  My impression is that this includes sub-orbital flights based on the wording. 


What advantages does this location have over Vandenberg and the Cape (from an orbital mechanics point of view) if any? 

[Jason1701]

If they called it the KBH Spaceport, would she still hate them?

[Zed_Noir]

So flying the F9/FH East from South Texas. Any guess if the flight path is North or South of Cuba? My guess is the Southern route.

[ChileVerde]

There's a ~225x75 meter pad beside TX 4 at 25.983 N, 97.190 W with what might be scorch marks.  I wonder if the area was ever used for rocketry in past years.

[Hauerg]

So flying the F9/FH East from South Texas. Any guess if the flight path is North or South of Cuba? My guess is the Southern route.

Does anyone know at what distance the F9 1st stage hit the ocean at the first 2 launches?

[Lurker Steve]

I was wondering how many oil rigs / drilling platforms are located in that area of the gulf. Those guys are not going to want to move every time SpaceX wants to launch.

How many tropical storms / huricanes hit that part of the coast ? Probably 1 or 2 per year, right ? Just the chance of a big storm would shutdown operations.

[mr. mark]

Possible oil platform employee waiver? Or possible political solution?