Quote from: Kabloona on 09/09/2014 02:30 pmMost of what's on the pad looks like high-pressure compressed gas trailers (the white arrays of cylinders). They certainly won't be there during operations.In particular, that looks like the tanks Helium is delivered in. I don't think any other gas is commonly shipped in those long thin tubes.
Most of what's on the pad looks like high-pressure compressed gas trailers (the white arrays of cylinders). They certainly won't be there during operations.
Quote from: Kabloona on 09/09/2014 02:30 pmMost of what's on the pad looks like high-pressure compressed gas trailers (the white arrays of cylinders). They certainly won't be there during operations.In particular, that looks like the tanks Helium is delivered in. I don't think any other gas is commonly shipped in those long thin tubes.See http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_do_helium_transport_trucks_typically_have_several_long_tanks_instead_of_one_large_tank
compressed natural gas is typically - see these multi modal`s for it - hydrogen as well
Quote from: nadreck on 09/09/2014 05:31 pmcompressed natural gas is typically - see these multi modal`s for it - hydrogen as wellGiven that it's still too early for methalox testing, and SpaceX doesn't do hydrolox, I guess helium is a safe bet then.
Quote from: kenny008 on 09/09/2014 02:08 pmSeems like an awful lot of equipment in close proximity to engine blast, especially without a flame trench. Is that all just construction equipment?They look like big racks of air tanks (look at the shadows), plus some building roof trusses. Perhaps they had to take early delivery and they may just be parking them there to keep the wheels out of the mud while they work on the rest of the site. There is a large shipping container in the bottom right corner for comparison.The large grey scrapped off area has 4 interesting structures out as well. Two 30ft. long rectangular pits and two 10ft. square protrusions that appear to be around 7-10 feet high (look at their shadows compared to the 12 foot tall backhoe nearby) with some sort of covers on them.
Seems like an awful lot of equipment in close proximity to engine blast, especially without a flame trench. Is that all just construction equipment?
While the upper pic looks like it MIGHT be a landing pad, I also think it might be the launch pad facility as well
The large grey scrapped off area has 4 interesting structures out as well. Two 30ft. long rectangular pits and two 10ft. square protrusions that appear to be around 7-10 feet high (look at their shadows compared to the 12 foot tall backhoe nearby) with some sort of covers on them.
Quote from: sghill on 09/09/2014 03:24 pmThe large grey scrapped off area has 4 interesting structures out as well. Two 30ft. long rectangular pits and two 10ft. square protrusions that appear to be around 7-10 feet high (look at their shadows compared to the 12 foot tall backhoe nearby) with some sort of covers on them.Could that be the start of a simple launch mount? The distance between the outside of the pits is 14m according to the Google Earth ruler. The LC-40 & SLC-4 measurements for the hydraulic ram pits are very similar. The flat concrete area would then be for storage of gasses, etc.The distance between the concrete and the launch mount is a little over 300m. The equivalent distance at the Grasshopper pad is only 50m. Pad to HIF at SLC-4 is around 246m. So the New Mexico distance seems ample.
How old is this image anyway?
https://twitter.com/maximeputeaux/status/509365783664005120 shotwell gives an update when missions in NM will fly:"@SpaceX COO next Falcon9R shall be delivered within 2 months for testing and the sent to New Mexico to fly #WSBW2014 pic.twitter.com/aj8Tl14yzR "
Quote from: meekGee on 09/10/2014 01:34 amHow old is this image anyway?According to Google Earth, it was captured 12/14/2013. So 9+ months ago.
Quote from: Lars_J on 09/10/2014 01:41 amQuote from: meekGee on 09/10/2014 01:34 amHow old is this image anyway?According to Google Earth, it was captured 12/14/2013. So 9+ months ago.Thanks for that info!That indicates that the photos were taken 5 months before the article that indicated SpaceX had spent about $2 million prior to May 2014 on constructing their facility at Spaceport America.
FWIW, the fenced building/facility to the south-southeast of the SpaceX construction, at the east end of the road, is the UP Aerospace vertical launch facility.(that is their launch tower sticking out of the end of the hangar doors)
Quote from: Llian Rhydderch on 09/10/2014 04:00 amFWIW, the fenced building/facility to the south-southeast of the SpaceX construction, at the east end of the road, is the UP Aerospace vertical launch facility.(that is their launch tower sticking out of the end of the hangar doors)Is that this thing?http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UP_Aerospace#/image/File:UP_Aerospace_vertical_launch_site_Spaceport_America.JPG
Quote from: Kabloona on 09/10/2014 04:19 amQuote from: Llian Rhydderch on 09/10/2014 04:00 amFWIW, the fenced building/facility to the south-southeast of the SpaceX construction, at the east end of the road, is the UP Aerospace vertical launch facility.(that is their launch tower sticking out of the end of the hangar doors)Is that this thing?http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UP_Aerospace#/image/File:UP_Aerospace_vertical_launch_site_Spaceport_America.JPGWhat a gorgeous contraption!It's like Thunderbirds 1 had a baby with StingRay, in a barn, and the baby is poking its head out, Alien style. And wheels.