Quote from: biosehnsucht on 10/13/2017 10:49 pmWhat's Google using the Spruce Goose facility for? Maybe they'd be willing to sell it to SpaceX?see here: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spruce-goose-hangar-sold-20161223-story.html
What's Google using the Spruce Goose facility for? Maybe they'd be willing to sell it to SpaceX?
Quote from: catdlr on 10/14/2017 04:24 amQuote from: biosehnsucht on 10/13/2017 10:49 pmWhat's Google using the Spruce Goose facility for? Maybe they'd be willing to sell it to SpaceX?see here: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spruce-goose-hangar-sold-20161223-story.htmlWell? What are they using it for?
So building a new waterside factory nearby would:- Save $2.5M in transport costs for each BFR and ITS built in Hawthorne- Cost SpaceX more money to build a BFR and ITS production line since it would not use existing facilities- Give SpaceX the ability to build Falcon 9's concurrently with BFR and ITS productionAnything else significant?
What is the ballpark number for the cost of the new facility at the port?
Quote from: geza on 10/14/2017 02:40 pmWhat is the ballpark number for the cost of the new facility at the port?Depends.They could lease an existing building, or they could build a new one.Gwynne said their long-term plans are to build BFR near the launch site. This implies building BFR near an L.A. seaport is a short-term solution. In this case, leasing space may make more sense.
Quote from: Dave G on 10/15/2017 02:20 amQuote from: geza on 10/14/2017 02:40 pmWhat is the ballpark number for the cost of the new facility at the port?Depends.They could lease an existing building, or they could build a new one.Gwynne said their long-term plans are to build BFR near the launch site. This implies building BFR near an L.A. seaport is a short-term solution. In this case, leasing space may make more sense.Presumably SpaceX would want to launch BFR from Vandenberg at some point in the future as they have calculated that BFR will be cheaper per flight than a F9 launch. They will still need Vandenberg for polar launches. Subsequently it would be in their interest keep a factory on the West Coast (besides the obvious benefit of having so much engineering talent already built up in LA).Building BFRs in LA Harbor and shipping to Vandenberg is currently problematic. From what I can tell the nearest port to Vandenberg is Santa Barbara Harbor. Moving these 9 meter diameter spaceships and cores from Santa Barbara Harbor to VAFB will not happen. One option for SpaceX is to eventually move their BFR factory near Vandenberg Village. Another option is to build a really large pier out near Surf Beach or Wall Beach so they can roll the stages right into VAFB. I think this would be a lot cheaper option than moving the BFR production line to Vandenberg Village. This would also provide the benefit of being able to supply both coasts from LA Harbor factory. Having the factory in LA Harbor has lots of other advantages.
Shipping directly to Vandenberg is probably doable with relatively minor modifications, the launch pad is a much larger item.
Quote from: Nydoc on 10/15/2017 02:38 pmQuote from: Dave G on 10/15/2017 02:20 amQuote from: geza on 10/14/2017 02:40 pmWhat is the ballpark number for the cost of the new facility at the port?Depends.They could lease an existing building, or they could build a new one.Gwynne said their long-term plans are to build BFR near the launch site. This implies building BFR near an L.A. seaport is a short-term solution. In this case, leasing space may make more sense.Presumably SpaceX would want to launch BFR from Vandenberg at some point in the future as they have calculated that BFR will be cheaper per flight than a F9 launch. They will still need Vandenberg for polar launches. Subsequently it would be in their interest keep a factory on the West Coast (besides the obvious benefit of having so much engineering talent already built up in LA).Building BFRs in LA Harbor and shipping to Vandenberg is currently problematic. From what I can tell the nearest port to Vandenberg is Santa Barbara Harbor. Moving these 9 meter diameter spaceships and cores from Santa Barbara Harbor to VAFB will not happen. One option for SpaceX is to eventually move their BFR factory near Vandenberg Village. Another option is to build a really large pier out near Surf Beach or Wall Beach so they can roll the stages right into VAFB. I think this would be a lot cheaper option than moving the BFR production line to Vandenberg Village. This would also provide the benefit of being able to supply both coasts from LA Harbor factory. Having the factory in LA Harbor has lots of other advantages.Shipping directly to Vandenberg is probably doable with relatively minor modifications, the launch pad is a much larger item.http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/736948/delta-mariner-docks-at-vandenberg/
Quote from: catdlr on 10/13/2017 03:05 amFrom someone that lives and works in the area, if Elon thinks it's hard to drive to Hawthorn from his home in Brentwood, he's going to hate it, even more, driving further south to the LA Harbor area (add 30 more minutes). The additional drive to Seal Beach (to the area near where the old Rockwell Saturn second stage plant) would add an additional 30 min. Seal BeachMy bet is that Gwynne Shotwell will be knocking on the door of whoever owns or leases the area where the Sea Launch plant is: HERE:Musk can afford a helicopter for that trip. Perhaps even for employees who need to shuttle back and forth from their sites.
From someone that lives and works in the area, if Elon thinks it's hard to drive to Hawthorn from his home in Brentwood, he's going to hate it, even more, driving further south to the LA Harbor area (add 30 more minutes). The additional drive to Seal Beach (to the area near where the old Rockwell Saturn second stage plant) would add an additional 30 min. Seal BeachMy bet is that Gwynne Shotwell will be knocking on the door of whoever owns or leases the area where the Sea Launch plant is: HERE:
If they have to build a new launch pad anyway, why would they go to Vandenberg? Why not build a new launch facility like Boca Chica on the West Coast? I wouldn't be surprised if that happens to avoid launch conflicts or conflicts in general with the military operations at Vandenberg.
Probably offshore platform for the west coast if Vandenberg can't support it.Anybody know of existing platforms on the west coast?
Radical idea: Build a BFR assembly and service "facility" on a barge. There might be just enough room in LA Port shown (That East Channel looks 100m wide and 700m long - there's more room there than there is on land). Then at some point, the barge can be moved to Brownsville through the Panama canal.
Quote from: alexterrell on 10/17/2017 07:14 amRadical idea: Build a BFR assembly and service "facility" on a barge. There might be just enough room in LA Port shown (That East Channel looks 100m wide and 700m long - there's more room there than there is on land). Then at some point, the barge can be moved to Brownsville through the Panama canal.Of all the locations for a factory that won't happen, this one won't happen the most.The new panama canal limits are ~49m*366m. BFR is ~9m*58m. You really don't want to be working in a facility where you can't turn the rocket round.49m wide is only really wide enough to fit three rockets in longways while working on them.
That size of factory won't fit on the plot of land indicated up post...
Quote from: alexterrell on 10/20/2017 09:29 amThat size of factory won't fit on the plot of land indicated up post...Which plot of land do you mean? At least 3 have been mentioned up-thread.
