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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. Or you can buy it directly from the author and get an autographed copy.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. Or you can buy it directly from the author and get an autographed copy.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.