Is it now safe to say after Shotwell's recent comments that the big crane seen arriving at Boca Chica is for BFR?
Quote from: rockets4life97 on 10/13/2017 04:42 pmIs it now safe to say after Shotwell's recent comments that the big crane seen arriving at Boca Chica is for BFR?That's an expensive piece of equipment to leave sitting around for a few years while the launch vehicle is developed. I suspect it may have some role in construction of the launch site.
Quote from: gongora on 10/13/2017 04:46 pmQuote from: rockets4life97 on 10/13/2017 04:42 pmIs it now safe to say after Shotwell's recent comments that the big crane seen arriving at Boca Chica is for BFR?That's an expensive piece of equipment to leave sitting around for a few years while the launch vehicle is developed. I suspect it may have some role in construction of the launch site.The two uses are not mutually exclusive.
That's an expensive piece of equipment to leave sitting around for a few years while the launch vehicle is developed. I suspect it may have some role in construction of the launch site.
Quote from: gongora on 10/13/2017 04:46 pmThat's an expensive piece of equipment to leave sitting around for a few years while the launch vehicle is developed. I suspect it may have some role in construction of the launch site.Right. First BFR launch appears to be no earlier than 2022, 5 years from now, and that will probably slip....
I can't really see Boca Chica being the primary plan for BFR. With it's latest downsizing, it's now within the size and thrust design of the KSC pads. Plus that area is already zoned for large rocket launches, and has an adequate exclusions zone, already has a lot of facilities and infrastructure, has a barge dock, already has a lot of SpaceX personnel based there, etc. etc.
Quote from: gongora on 10/13/2017 04:46 pmThat's an expensive piece of equipment to leave sitting around for a few years while the launch vehicle is developed. I suspect it may have some role in construction of the launch site.Right. First BFR launch appears to be no earlier than 2022, 5 years from now, and that will probably slip.But the question remains: Will they launch BFR from land, or from a platform a few miles offshore from Boca Chica beach?Remember, Texas State law forbids SpaceX from closing Boca Chica Beach on any weekend or holiday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That's not going to change.Also remember that each BFR Mars mission will require 6 launches: 1 for the spacecraft, and 5 more tanker launches to fuel the spacecraft. And since BFR is highly reusable, SpaceX will presumably want to launch several spacecraft within each Mars launch window, which is only a few weeks every 2 years. So we're talking dozens of launches within a relatively short period of time.With this in mind, the Texas State beach closure law would really limit SpaceX's goals for colonizing Mars.If they built a BFR launch pad just a few miles offshore, beach closures become a non-issue, but they would still need the control center and tracking station in Boca Chica Village, and they would probably also need a place next to the beach to store propellant, with fiber, hoses, etc. running out to the launch pad. So the crane could be to build the control center building, payload processing buildings, water tower, etc.
I can't really see Boca Chica being the primary plan for BFR. With it's latest downsizing, it's now within the size and thrust design of the KSC pads. Plus that area is already zoned for large rocket launches, and has an adequate exclusions zone, already has a lot of facilities and infrastructure, has a barge dock, already has a lot of SpaceX personnel based there, etc. etc.A bit of speculation. I think the plan is to get something up on pad 39A and launched as fast as possible, which will likely be the event that pushes SLS into cancellation, and a NASA-SpaceX Partnership to get NASA astronauts to the moon and later to Mars. At which time pad 39B and most KSC facilities should become available for lease. With the newly downsized BFR, this should all work real good for SpaceX, which would then probably move Falcon launches off 39A as soon as they are able, and be able to launch off both 39A and 39B to support their desired flight rate.But...they aren't quite ready to call out SLS and put the hard press on it just yet. So by talking BFR from Boca Chica, that sort of avoids the issue for a little while. And since they haven't started construction there yet, I would guess they are waiting to see if that primary plan shakes out or not. If so, they may just build it up for Falcon to help get Falcon off of 39A. If things don't shake out as planned, they can then fall back on trying to use it for BFR. So they are waiting to see which way they'll have to go before they start building anything.There just seems to be a lot issues with launching it form Boca Chica that aren't at KSC, so unless there's just a big piece of the picture I'm not seeing, I can't see them primarily wanting to have BFR operations there when KSC so already so much better set up for it.
Hopping in here, is it confirmed that BFR isn't launching from 39A and only Boca?
On launch sitesPad 39a will be used for Falcon Heavy launches and crew flightsBoca Chica launch site under construction is the "perfect location for BFR"She did not mention anything else about Boca Chica other than its prime suitability for BFR
I think the most likely scenario is boca chica becomes the macgregor for BFR. They have to do lots of tests, static fires, hops, etc. They may eventually launch first from there. But I think when they are ready they will launch mostly from KSC.Is there anything in the rule book about static fires?
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