I'm completely lost on the color coding of the PVC pipe. Blue is normally used for water, but what's the blue and green for?
The green seems to be smaller conduits. Perhaps they could be for data or low voltage/control wiring. The blue looks like large diameter conduits for electrical copper.
For a solar array, I believe the low voltage DC wires are larger, i.e. higher amperage. Also I imagine there would be more low voltage DC wires than high voltage AC wires.They could be using micro-inverters, but with the potential for hurricanes and flooding, I'm guessing traditional inverters located on the concrete slabs.
Quote from: wannamoonbase on 12/17/2017 12:15 amThe green seems to be smaller conduits. Perhaps they could be for data or low voltage/control wiring. The blue looks like large diameter conduits for electrical copper.For a solar array, I believe the low voltage DC wires are larger, i.e. higher amperage. Also I imagine there would be more low voltage DC wires than high voltage AC wires.They could be using micro-inverters, but with the potential for hurricanes and flooding, I'm guessing traditional inverters located on the concrete slabs.
Total cost of SLC 40 re-biuld was, what, $50M? Less than the revenue from a single launch...If BFR launches from Texas, then BC becomes a much larger project, and at that point the marginal cost of an F9 pad will be almost negligible.
Given the number of tanker launches per BFS mission, ISTM it'll fly from and land at both Boca Chica and KSC. Launch, transfer, land, refill. Rinse, wash, repeat until 2 BFS's are full.
Quote from: docmordrid on 12/17/2017 10:17 pmGiven the number of tanker launches per BFS mission, ISTM it'll fly from and land at both Boca Chica and KSC. Launch, transfer, land, refill. Rinse, wash, repeat until 2 BFS's are full.In the long term, yes, I think they'll launch BFR from both Florida and Texas.For the first Mars missions in 2022, I think they'll have to choose one or the other.
Quote from: meekGee on 12/17/2017 09:54 pmTotal cost of SLC 40 re-biuld was, what, $50M? Less than the revenue from a single launch...If BFR launches from Texas, then BC becomes a much larger project, and at that point the marginal cost of an F9 pad will be almost negligible.Good point.But the counter-point: To launch F9 from Boca Chica, they need to build a lot more than just a launch pad. They have to build the whole thing from scratch, including control center buildings, payload processing buildings, plus 2 hangars (one HIF, and one for refurbishing boosters). They even have to build their own solar system for power and drill their own well for deluge water.And all this comes at a time where Elon just announced a major change in priority for BFR. As of September, SpaceX no longer plans for Starlink to fund BFR. Elon said they intend to fund BFR with just the money they get from launching satellites and servicing the space station. Elon also said the first BFR Mars missions will be in September 2022, way before any Starlink revenues.So in order to free up funds for BFR, SpaceX may choose to squeeze the most they can out of their 3 current launch pads and 1 landing pad, and delay the Boca Chica site for cash flow reasons.But to be clear, I have no clue whether F9 will launch from Boca Chica. I can argue both sides of this. That's why I'm unsure.
I think a single BFS can be refueled from a single pad. 5 launches, 5 days? 10 days? 15? All very acceptable.
Interesting to note that the amphitheater is at such an angle that it would work well to view launches from Boca Chica beach or ~10 miles offshore from the beach.
Quote from: RedLineTrain on 12/19/2017 08:26 pmInteresting to note that the amphitheater is at such an angle that it would work well to view launches from Boca Chica beach or ~10 miles offshore from the beach.Yeah, it's designed to watch the launches.
Quote from: Dave G on 12/19/2017 10:18 pmQuote from: RedLineTrain on 12/19/2017 08:26 pmInteresting to note that the amphitheater is at such an angle that it would work well to view launches from Boca Chica beach or ~10 miles offshore from the beach.Yeah, it's designed to watch the launches.Of courseBut his point was that the stands would work for viewing launches from the beach site currently being developed and for the offshore launch platforms hypothesized by some for the BFR. However, it looks like SPI is getting ahead of themselves. It seems a risk to build the launch viewing stands before SpaceX builds the launch pad. SpaceX is very .... agile, let’s say. Plans do change.