Spaceflight 🚀Jul 10, 2024

“#SpaceX would modify, reuse, or demolish the existing #SLC37* infrastructure to support #Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations” https://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/proposed-action/

* 🗺️ https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=SLC-37&layer=Esri+Satellite

#CapeCanaveral #SpaceForce #Launchpad

Proposed Action – Space Force Starship EIS

Proposed Action Purpose of the Proposed Action The purpose of the Action is to advance U.S. space capabilities and provide launch and landing infrastructure in furtherance of U.S. policy to ensure capabilities necessary to launch and insert DAF payloads into space (10 U.S.C. Section 2273, “Policy regarding assured access to space: national security payloads”). Need […]

Show threadSpaceflight 🚀Jul 16, 2024

Besides the request for up to 25 launches per year from #Starbase, #SpaceX is also planning for up to 44 Starship launches per year from #LC39A at the Kennedy Space Center as well as up to 76 launches per year from #SLC37B. This will total up to 145 launches of #Starship per year https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/07/booster-12-static-fires-pad-a-b-tower-stacking/

Starbase’s second launch tower 🗺️ https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=Starbase+Integration+Tower+B&layer=OpenStreetMap

Booster 12 static fires at Pad A and Pad B tower stacking underway - NASASpaceFlight.com

After Hurricane Beryl passed the Brownsville area without seriously damaging Starbase, preparations for Starship Flight…

NASASpaceFlight.com
Show threadMichael GemarJul 16, 2024
@spaceflight Given that full in-space refuelling will take 8-12 additional tanker flights, that would make around 14 fully-fuelled Starships in orbit per year, which is pretty impressive. (I wonder how quickly in-orbit refuelling has to be done to avoid problems with boil-off — I doubt those refueling flights would be spread over months.)
Show threadSpaceflight 🚀
@michaelgemar where's that "8-12" number from ? 🤔
Jul 16, 2024 at 10:12pmWeb
Show threadMichael GemarJul 16, 2024

@spaceflight That’s been the ballpark of what SoaceX and NASA have said, e.g., “SpaceX's current estimate is approximately 10 refueling launches for one Artemis landing mission, but there are error bars on each side of this number.”

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/nasa-exploration-chief-lays-out-next-steps-for-starship-development/

NASA lays out how SpaceX will refuel Starships in low-Earth orbit

"The fundamental flow mechanism is the pressure delta across the umbilical."

Ars Technica
Show threadSpaceflight 🚀Jul 16, 2024
@michaelgemar the "ballpark" seems to be quite wide "The exact number of refueling launches has been the subject of controversy, with estimates going as high as nearly 20" https://spacenews.com/spacex-making-progress-on-starship-in-space-refueling-technologies/
SpaceX making progress on Starship in-space refueling technologies

NASA says SpaceX is on track to demonstrate in-space refueling of Starship next year, a critical technology for returning humans to the lunar surface using that vehicle.

SpaceNews
Show threadMichael GemarJul 16, 2024
@spaceflight Yep — whatever the number, it will take a *lot* of launches.