{"id":37869,"date":"2019-10-07T19:47:16","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T11:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/construction-of-starship-39a-launch-and-landing-facility-picking-up-the-pace\/"},"modified":"2019-10-07T19:47:16","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T11:47:16","slug":"construction-of-starship-39a-launch-and-landing-facility-picking-up-the-pace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/construction-of-starship-39a-launch-and-landing-facility-picking-up-the-pace\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction of Starship 39A launch and landing facility picking up the pace"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The construction of the new Starship launch and landing facility at Pad 39A is in full swing as heavy equipment lays the foundations at the iconic Kennedy Space Center pad complex. Built alongside the 39A ramp, a new launch mount will be installed for what will be the maiden launch of SpaceX\u2019s Starship Mk2 prototype rocket. The facility also includes a landing pad that will be eventually used for returning vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX is building a fleet of Starships, initially with Mk1 in Boca Chica, Texas, and Mk2 in Cocoa, Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Mk1 recently enjoyed her big day in the spotlight at the Boca Chica facility during Elon Musk\u2019s Starship update event.<\/p>\n<p>The vehicle was assembled into its flight configuration, albeit not flight-ready. The three Raptor engines installed on the vehicle were not the engine set that the vehicle will eventually fly with during its maiden flight.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Starship Mk1 Stacking Operations - Entire Sequence\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uh8T_0JYUGw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The vehicle has since been demated \u2013 with the Raptor engines removed \u2013 and will now be processed for a test launch to an altitude of 20 KM before returning for a landing at the launch site.<\/p>\n<p>Work is already taking place at the Boca Chica launch site, the area from which Starhopper made its historic 150-meter hop.<\/p>\n<p>A large amount of work is required to ready the launch site to host Starship Mk1, from installing additional propellant tanks \u2013 required to feed the larger vehicle \u2013 through to a launch mount that will host the vehicle ahead of launch.<\/p>\n<p>The launch of the Mk2 Starship will take place from KSC\u2019s 39A, with work already progressing at pace since approval was granted after environmental impact studies.<\/p>\n<p>NASA mission patches<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; 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visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1180090376071323649&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F10%2Fconstruction-starship-39a-facility-pace%2F&amp;sessionId=1eceb9ae5d557a7627f4a52429d8b8456f4fa042&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1180090376071323649\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1783498075818769087=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I found myself with time to spare yesterday so I took a tour. The Starship pad at 39A is progressing fast. Logistically, I&#8217;m wondering how much equipment will have to be moved for a Falcon 9 launch or will the pad be done first? <img decoding=\"async\" draggable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"emoji\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd14\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f914.svg\"> #Starship #39A pic.twitter.com\/TVTJAzRzGO<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Julia Bergeron (@julia_bergeron) October 4, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Although work on the new addition only began just over two weeks ago, photos show heavy equipment has already cleared a large area next to the 39A ramp providing an outline of the launch mount location and landing pad.<\/p>\n<p>From imagery gained both from the ground and via satellite photos (L2), ditches are being carved in the \u2018retention areas\u2019 directly north and south of the main work area, with a \u2018Rocket Support Facility\u2019 to be located directly east-northeast.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63503\" class=\"wp-image-63503 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-04-15-54-48-749.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1702\" height=\"701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-04-15-54-48-749.jpg 1702w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-04-15-54-48-749-350x144.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-04-15-54-48-749-630x259.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-04-15-54-48-749-768x316.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-04-15-54-48-749-1170x482.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1702px) 100vw, 1702px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-63503\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sentinel-2 satellite images between September and October 2019 show the rapid progress at 39A<\/p>\n<p>Foundations for the Launch Mount and Deluge Water System are already being worked along with a circular paved area due southeast, which will be the new vehicle\u2019s landing pad.<\/p>\n<p>The location of the new pad will avoid impacts to the ongoing use of 39A for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. However, the launch cadence from the complex will increase exponentially when the new vehicle begins conducting launches from 39A.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Draft Environmental Assessment, SpaceX envisions up to 24 launches per year of Starship and the full configuration involving the monstrous Super Heavy booster.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63545\" class=\"wp-image-63545 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-07-15-13-46-149.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-07-15-13-46-149.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-07-15-13-46-149-350x189.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-07-15-13-46-149-630x341.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-07-15-13-46-149-768x416.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NSF-2019-10-07-15-13-46-149-1170x633.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-63545\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NSF\u2019s Jay DeShetler render of 39A\u2019s evolution to host Starship and then Super Heavy \u2013 L2<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, that report also noted SpaceX may initially conduct Starship landings at LZ-1, allowing the company to finetune what is a prototype system before being confident enough at conducting landings at the new 39A landing pad.<\/p>\n<p>The Starship Mk2 prototype vehicle is currently being constructed at a facility in Cocoa, following a near-identical assembly roadmap as its sister vehicle in Boca Chica.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Starship Cocoa Facility 6 Oct 2019\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bBKUXKLD2ao?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid1\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Overhead views of the Cidco Rd facility show the Mk2 vehicle in its two distinct engine and fairing sections, while an array of additional steel rings for future vehicles surround the building.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>SpaceX Super Heavy\/Starship Section<\/li>\n<li>SpaceX Facilities Section<\/li>\n<li>L2 SpaceX Section<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One of the biggest challenges to come ahead of Mk2\u2019s launch is transporting the vehicle from Cocoa to the Kennedy Space Center.&nbsp; Co-Founder of Space Coast Launch Ambassadors, and NSF member, Julia Bergeron, recently gathered more details on the logistics involved with the move by investigating the local public records.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStarship, as large as it is, poses some challenges as an oversized load. A path had to be determined that would have the least amount of obstacles such as power\/utility lines. This requires a new clearing from the industrial area as well as contra traffic travel,\u201d writes Bergeron in an overview of the Starship transportation process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe path between Cidco Road and the FedEx (facility) is currently being cleared. What is unclear yet is if it will be paved or if they will lay down mats for the transporter. Several power lines have been raised or buried and other utilities are making progress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With other companies \u2013 such as Virgin Trains \u2013 planning construction along the current path Starship will be transported along, SpaceX has been in communication regarding the use of the nearby ramp and keeping the area clear of concrete barriers until after MK2 is moved.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-2\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1180198049521508352&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F10%2Fconstruction-starship-39a-facility-pace%2F&amp;sessionId=1eceb9ae5d557a7627f4a52429d8b8456f4fa042&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1180198049521508352\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1783498075818769087=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Now that the Starship MK1 presentation is over I am seeing more questions about how SpaceX will move MK2 from the Cidco Rd. facility to KSC. I did a public records request and got answers to many of your burning questions. How to move a Starship 101. (Thread) #MK2 #Starship<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Julia Bergeron (@julia_bergeron) October 4, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The actual road trip for Mk2 will be conducted on a Roll-Lift, as was the case \u2013 albeit for a much shorter distance \u2013 for the Boca Chica vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>They will transport the vehicle to the SR528 footing, which is a local fishing spot and not originally intended for heavy transport. As such, the plan will involve laying mats on the ground and rolling the vehicle on to a barge with two support tugs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce the transporter is rolled onto the barge they will utilize the Indian River Lagoon to the Canaveral Barge Canal. At that point they will be on the Banana River Lagoon and can travel north to the KSC Turn Basin,\u201d added Bergeron.<\/p>\n<p>The KSC Turn Basin is where all transportation using the waterways arrives, including the recent arrival of the modified Pegasus Barge with the SLS Pathfinder.<\/p>\n<p>From this location near the iconic KSC Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Starship will then roll a few miles up the Crawlerway road system to the gates of SpaceX\u2019s 39A.<\/p>\n<p>Lead Photo by Julia Bergeron for NSF\/L2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The construction of the new Starship launch and landing facility at Pad 39A is in full swing as heavy equipment lays the foundations at the iconic Kennedy Space Center pad complex. Built alongside the 39A ramp, a new launch mount will be installed for what will be the maiden launch of SpaceX\u2019s Starship Mk2 prototype [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27481,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7841,316,317],"class_list":["post-37869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-39a","tag-spacex","tag-starship"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37869"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}