SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 12

[Herb Schaltegger]

Buy why do they need a second stairway?  Was the first one becoming a choke point?  Guess now they can have one for traffic going up and the other for traffic going down.

Could be a safety-related talking point with the FAA prior to approval of the launch license - e.g., need a second ground-based access point for Red Team-type people to go work on a hot (dangerous) situation in the event some mechanical issue inside the OLM prevents access from the first staircase.

Alternately, it may be that with everything built out and now enclosed, there is limited space inside the structure and work in one place might impede access through the existing single stairway.

And it just might be for convenience - it’s quite a structure to circumnavigate, I would think. Having a second access point shortens the time of access if what you need to get to is on the other side.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/vickicocks15/status/1636389505119973376

Oooh! Deluge related pipe! Nice! It will be fascinating to see how this all fits together...and see how well it works once complete!
@davidgojr #HoopCam

[Tangilinear Interjar]

Buy why do they need a second stairway?  Was the first one becoming a choke point?  Guess now they can have one for traffic going up and the other for traffic going down.

Could be a safety-related talking point with the FAA prior to approval of the launch license - e.g., need a second ground-based access point for Red Team-type people to go work on a hot (dangerous) situation in the event some mechanical issue inside the OLM prevents access from the first staircase.

Alternately, it may be that with everything built out and now enclosed, there is limited space inside the structure and work in one place might impede access through the existing single stairway.

And it just might be for convenience - it’s quite a structure to circumnavigate, I would think. Having a second access point shortens the time of access if what you need to get to is on the other side.

It could just be a building code thing. Often building codes require commercial spaces must have two routes of egress. Maybe this is just one of the last steps to get this structure "signed off" by  the building department.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1637822785819901953

Great news, OLM fans!

That gap in the Orbital Launch Mount is now paneled.

nsf.live/starbase

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/vickicocks15/status/1637836085366489088

Down at the Launch Complex, more steel plating is being added to the OLM.
@LabPadre #RoverCam

[AU1.52]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1637822785819901953

Great news, OLM fans!

That gap in the Orbital Launch Mount is now paneled.

nsf.live/starbase

2nd Staircase to no where now??

[russianhalo117]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1637822785819901953

Great news, OLM fans!

That gap in the Orbital Launch Mount is now paneled.

nsf.live/starbase

2nd Staircase to no where now??

It can still go to the removable work platform if they finish it and might get extended up to the OLM at a later date after the OTF et al flights. It is no longer priority if steel piiral staircase they ordered is no longer going to arrive before OTF.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/csi_starbase/status/1637868420862468099

Last week SpaceX began adding injection ports to the side of the extensions for the Orbital Launch Mount. These are now being filled with concrete...

Glad to finally see this being done. Slightly shocked its happening so late in the game though🤯

📸: @RGVaerialphotos

[lykos]

Nearly forgotten, but finally remembered?

But why so relatively low?

[InterestedEngineer]

https://twitter.com/csi_starbase/status/1637868420862468099

Last week SpaceX began adding injection ports to the side of the extensions for the Orbital Launch Mount. These are now being filled with concrete...

Glad to finally see this being done. Slightly shocked its happening so late in the game though🤯

📸: @RGVaerialphotos

bit confused.  What are those injections ports for?

[matthewkantar]

bit confused.  What are those injections ports for?

Concrete?

[Tommyboy]

bit confused.  What are those injections ports for?

Concrete?

Any concrete evidence to solidify that statement?

I'll show myself out.

[meekGee]

bit confused.  What are those injections ports for?

Concrete?

Any concrete evidence to solidify that statement?

I'll show myself out.

An aggregate of arguments cementing a conclusion.

See you in the lobby.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/vickicocks15/status/1638565675642892288

@LabPadre #Rover2Cam catches some additions to the OTF pipework being manoeuvred into place. Several sections of varying sizes were lifted and placed ahead of final plumbing.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1638917174667673602

Safety scaffolding is being removed from the chopsticks at Starbase. Hopefully a sign they are getting closer to returning Booster 7 to the OLM in the not-too-distant future.

nsf.live/starbase

[AstroDave]

Second staircase on OLM seems to have been removed. Any ideas?

[alugobi]

Latest NSF video shows it being lifted off.

Also in the vid, view towards B7 from the outback shows several rows of steel panels stacked up that look like they will become the skirt around the launch mount, covering the cryo plumbing running below the walkway.

[spacenuance]

They actually moved it off the launch site shortly after it was lifted off. Maybe they just gave up lol, redundant stairs not needed.

Screenshot from Hoop Cam.

[lykos]

Second staircase on OLM seems to have been removed. Any ideas?

The staircase would need shielding.
Maybe they have better things to do now.
Maybe it will return later.