SpaceX begins filling tanks at Starship orbital launchpad
Capitalism in space: SpaceX has begun the process of filling the many tanks at its Starship orbital launchpad in Boca Chica, requiring more than a hundred truck deliveries of nitrogen (for cleaning the interior of the tanks as well as cooling the propellants) and oxygen.
In mid-September, SpaceX began delivering cryogenic fluids to Starbase’s orbital tank farm for the first time ever. Instead of propellant, dozens of tanker trucks delivered liquid nitrogen to one or two of the farm’s tanks between mid-September and mid-October. Altogether, around 40-60 truckloads was delivered – only enough to partially fill one tank. That liquid nitrogen also appeared to be piped into two of the farm’s three liquid oxygen tanks, meaning that it may have only been used to clean and proof test them.
Combined, the farm’s seven main tanks should be able to store roughly 2400 tons (5.3M lb) of liquid methane (LCH4), 5400 tons (12M lb) of liquid oxygen (LOx), and 2600 tons (5.7M lb) of liquid nitrogen (LN2). LCH4 and LOx are Starship’s propellant, while LN2 is needed to ‘subcool’ that propellant below its boiling point, significantly increasing its density and the mass of propellant Starships can store.
It appears that while SpaceX has begun storing oxygen, it has not yet begun loading its methane tanks. When that fuel begins arriving we will know that an orbital launch of Starship is imminent.
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX has begun the process of filling the many tanks at its Starship orbital launchpad in Boca Chica, requiring more than a hundred truck deliveries of nitrogen (for cleaning the interior of the tanks as well as cooling the propellants) and oxygen.
In mid-September, SpaceX began delivering cryogenic fluids to Starbase’s orbital tank farm for the first time ever. Instead of propellant, dozens of tanker trucks delivered liquid nitrogen to one or two of the farm’s tanks between mid-September and mid-October. Altogether, around 40-60 truckloads was delivered – only enough to partially fill one tank. That liquid nitrogen also appeared to be piped into two of the farm’s three liquid oxygen tanks, meaning that it may have only been used to clean and proof test them.
Combined, the farm’s seven main tanks should be able to store roughly 2400 tons (5.3M lb) of liquid methane (LCH4), 5400 tons (12M lb) of liquid oxygen (LOx), and 2600 tons (5.7M lb) of liquid nitrogen (LN2). LCH4 and LOx are Starship’s propellant, while LN2 is needed to ‘subcool’ that propellant below its boiling point, significantly increasing its density and the mass of propellant Starships can store.
It appears that while SpaceX has begun storing oxygen, it has not yet begun loading its methane tanks. When that fuel begins arriving we will know that an orbital launch of Starship is imminent.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Greens might try a White Heat moment.
on the subject of the FAA delaying launches, what if SpaceX builds an operates a 2nd launch site in a 2nd state? To defer the cost, provide fuel, launch tower and vehicle services to any company that has a rocket. Then the politicians, voters and business groups in each state can pressure the FAA, independent of SpaceX ,to allow launches. It would be untenable for the FAA to have a block on 1 state and not the other. And equally difficult for them to face the pressure for blocking launches from two or more states. ( better yet, build the launch facility right on a state border. Two states, 4 senators could force the FAA to get lost. )
This is one of those aspects of space flight that is underappreciated by casual rocketry fans. The logistics that go into filling tank farms for regular flights looks impressive. Any idea how far they have to truck it? Seems like it would make sense to produce the liquid nitrogen and oxygen on site and deliver to storage via pipeline.
Elon needs to come to Mobile.
Steve R – While the idea of 2X pressure on FAA is an appealing thought, it seems like Musk abandoned that idea several years ago when he seemed to have two sites, Florida and Texas each building a Starship. Your remarks feed my obsession that perhaps Musk would have been better to concentrate Starship launch facilities at Cape Kennedy.
I can only imagine the amount of money Musk is spending on Starship, so doubling the cost of base construction seems like it might have Musk’s accountant plotting murder against the proposing good idea fairy.
I am hopeful (for no particular reason) that the FAA will announce its decision (good or bad) soon.
TL,
There a three big LOX producers outside and around of Houston. They probably truck that in since Boca Chica is 300 miles away from Houston.
As for the kerosene, they have that on tap on all the kitchen sinks in Texas: Hot, Cold, Crude, and Kerosene.
Small bit of pedantry: the Florida location is the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The Cape got renamed back in the ‘70s
TL-Our cryo supplier stopped in to talk the other day. He said there is a big squeeze going on in the LOX market due to the extra demand at hospitals due to the Covid. Plants are working overtime but the pinch point is delivery. There’s only so many LOX tanker trailers available and that is the pinch point.