SpaceX plans major expansion at KSC with futuristic launch control center
It will be an operational monument to Elon Musk's vision: a towering SpaceX launch control center, a 133,000-square-foot hangar and a rocket garden rising in the heart of Kennedy Space Center.According to plans detailed in a draft environmental review published recently by KSC, SpaceX will undertake a major expansion of its facilities at the space center sometime in the not-too-distant future.
SpaceX estimates there could be up 63 landings a year of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters, according to the draft environmental review.
The document. (How would you find this if you didn't already know it was there?)
I thought stalk buildings had gone out of fashion some time ago, the effort of building just (say) a 10th and 11th floor being as high as, or higher than, building all the floors up to that point. With fewer opportunities for future use.
Interestingly the plan does not mention BFR/BFS yet explicitly mentions F9 and FH. Will need at least a supplemental plan and public review to cover BFR/BFS environmental impact. Meanwhile no known environmental plan or public review for Boca Chica and BFS.
In the future, additional facilities may be required for manifest support or new launch vehicle specifications. However, at this time, the scope of future needs has not been defined and these facilities are not in planned development.
In addition, the Proposed Action is needed to facilitate a shift in operations to support both cargo and crew missions to the ISS, as well as a handful of deep space missions from the east coast of the U.S.
Road improvements would include paving Roberts Road and A Avenue to support two lanes along the length of the site and adding a left turn lane capability on SR 3. Internal site roads would provide access to facilities within the site boundary. As SpaceX develops new vehicles, Roberts Road could be expanded to provide four-lane capability, if needed.
I like the idea of SpaceX having its own centralized facility, but I cannot for the life of me understand why the company would want to force its control team to climb (ride elevators, of course) to the top of a 300-ish foot tower to do their jobs. That is beyond unnecessary. It creates safety issues that don't need to be created, etc., and it costs money that doesn't need to be spent. - Ed Kyle
That looks more like a viewing tower for the public rather than a control team building. My assumption would be that this is either a misunderstanding with the wrong artwork.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 06/08/2018 10:31 pmI like the idea of SpaceX having its own centralized facility, but I cannot for the life of me understand why the company would want to force its control team to climb (ride elevators, of course) to the top of a 300-ish foot tower to do their jobs. That is beyond unnecessary. It creates safety issues that don't need to be created, etc., and it costs money that doesn't need to be spent. - Ed KyleThe same could be said of VAB (526 feet/160.3 m) or any high-rise in the coastal SE US. Do you really think the architect hasn't run it through storm simulations?
