Comments on: SpaceX proposes new launchpads for Starship at Kennedy

By: Questioner

Questioner — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 09:02:49 +0000

Some news from Elon Musk:

Musks says: Starship gets additional three raptor (vacuum) engines, that is a total of nine raptors per Starship. Sparship’s propellant tanks are being extended to increase propellant mass.

Here some fun stuff sent by Musk:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1472052839316963329

By: pzatchok

pzatchok — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 02:00:10 +0000

I hope they do not endanger the muddy mud skipper.

I protected cartoon species.

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 20:45:32 +0000

Alton and Matt, You are both right. It does look like it is further north of those sites. I tried to search for a good map that had those past sites listed and so far this is the most recent one that does not cut-off at LC-39B here.

By: Matt in AZ

Matt in AZ — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:57:50 +0000

Jay: LC-49 looks to be just a little north of the formerly planned LC-39C & D sites.

Jeff: with a planned fleet of hundreds of Starships, the Phobos and Deimos platforms will only be a portion of what is needed. I’m counting 7 launch towers announced so far:

2 @ Boca Chica
1 @ LC-39A
2 @ LC-49
2 Floating Platforms

I expect there will eventually be a Vandenberg site, and perhaps even Indonesia (there have been negotiations).

By: Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:45:29 +0000

Good news. I think post-Saturn concepts were slated to go there anyway, right?

By: Alton

Alton — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:41:40 +0000

Jay:

That does looks to be the areas on the Sixties Maps that were listed as Pad 39C and ” future Nova Class Launch sites..

By: Skunk Bucket

Skunk Bucket — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:03:37 +0000

What I find intriguing is the portion of the map labeled “Horizontal Launch Area.” Is there some sort of new rocket that needs such a thing, or are they thinking of flying Roc or Cosmic Girl from the Cape. If so, I would have imagined them using the very long existing runway there.

And yes, why not use Phobos and Diemos instead of building land-based launch facilities?

By: jeff

jeff — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:15:42 +0000

Why two sites at Kennedy? Why not one at Kennedy and use the ex oil platforms Phobos and Diemos?

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 17:41:12 +0000

So the sites for LC-49 and the proposed one north of it, weren’t those the never built sites for LC-39C and D for the Saturn V?

I am sure paperwork is a formality since these are brownfield sites.