Comments on: SpaceX begins filling tanks at Starship orbital launchpad https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/ Sun, 07 Nov 2021 15:03:38 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: pawn https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1224919 Sun, 07 Nov 2021 15:03:38 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1224919 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.

]]> By: Andi https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223803 Sat, 06 Nov 2021 03:33:02 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223803 Small bit of pedantry: the Florida location is the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The Cape got renamed back in the ‘70s

]]> By: Jay https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223802 Sat, 06 Nov 2021 03:29:12 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223802 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.

]]> By: Doubting Thomas https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223794 Sat, 06 Nov 2021 03:13:09 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223794 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.

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223727 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 23:38:20 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223727 Elon needs to come to Mobile.

]]> By: TL https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223667 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 20:34:41 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223667 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.

]]> By: Steve Richter https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223658 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 20:19:57 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223658 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. )

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/spacex-begins-filling-tanks-at-starship-orbital-launchpad/#comment-1223622 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 19:03:27 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=80444#comment-1223622 Greens might try a White Heat moment.

]]>