Starbase, Tx - SpaceX Launch Infrastructure

aaron38 · #1 Posted **May 18, 2021, 5:09 PM**

I don't know if this is the best place for this thread, I searched and didn't see anything already for it. It's not civilian transportation, it's not a skyscraper. But they are going crazy with the cranes right now, and people here love cranes so I thought there would be interest.

Tons of videos like this one from NASASpaceflight, and live webcams. So if you're interested, take a look. Right now they are assembling a massive Liebherr LR 11000 crane so they can stack pre-built sections of the Starship launch tower.

Construction Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHP8ADl8GJY

Live Webcam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTA0GTgFn5E

(Looks like videos won't embed)
(Mods: Feel free to move if there's a better spot for this)

M II A II R II K · #2 Posted **May 18, 2021, 9:20 PM**

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aaron38 · #3 Posted **May 19, 2021, 4:03 AM**

Thanks!

This is the whole launch site. Massive caissons under the orbital launch mount and tower.

https://mobile.twitter.com/RGVaerial...856832/photo/1

aaron38 · #4 Posted **May 21, 2021, 4:35 PM**

They are getting ready to use those massive cranes for a big lift.

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aaron38 · #5 Posted **May 25, 2021, 1:23 AM**

The “Frankencrane” saw action today. Second section of the tower (first lift) lifted into place. At least two more to go, maybe three.

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aaron38 · #6 Posted **May 29, 2021, 4:24 PM**

Third tower section lifted. They said during the lift there are 4 sections after this one.

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aaron38 · #7 Posted **Jun 10, 2021, 11:47 PM**

Big crane fans, tell your friends, get in here. This one's for you.

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aaron38 · #8 Posted **Jun 14, 2021, 12:35 PM**

Tower stacking of the 4th section begins at 2:30 in this video. That crane is incredibly tall now.

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aaron38 · #9 Posted **Jun 16, 2021, 8:08 PM**

Section #5 lifted. Two more to go.

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mrnyc · #10 Posted **Jun 17, 2021, 5:12 PM**

Technology

Texas Official Warns SpaceX Amid Showdown Over Public Roads

By Sergio Chapa
June 16, 2021, 12:35 AM EDT

A Texas prosecutor warned billionaire Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. that the company’s private security guards are blocking access to public roads around one of its bases, a situation that could potentially result in lawsuits and criminal charges.

more:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...r-public-roads

The ATX · #11 Posted **Jun 18, 2021, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrnyc

Technology

Texas Official Warns SpaceX Amid Showdown Over Public Roads

By Sergio Chapa
June 16, 2021, 12:35 AM EDT

A Texas prosecutor warned billionaire Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. that the company’s private security guards are blocking access to public roads around one of its bases, a situation that could potentially result in lawsuits and criminal charges.

more:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...r-public-roads

SpaceX has a long history of not being a good neighbor at that site.

mrnyc · #12 Posted **Jun 18, 2021, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

SpaceX has a long history of not being a good neighbor at that site.

i don't doubt it. funny enough, i have actually been there. the reason is because the beach there is the most SE accessable point on the la frontera/mexican border. i toured the entire usa/mex border over several trips in the 1990s and that was where i finshed my visits. i really enjoyed it -- its definitely not mex or tex, its its own world and culture. anyway, that was well before spacex of course.

to be fair, the spacex spaceport is in a great spot. there is nothing around it except the long road access to the beach -- and the beach isnt really that popular.
they can't block roads arbitrarily tho, so i have no sympathy.

aaron38 · #13 Posted **Jul 2, 2021, 3:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

SpaceX has a long history of not being a good neighbor at that site.

Everyone who owns land there will eventually be bought out for lots and lots of money. They'll be just fine. And they have a front row seat to one of the greatest sights on Earth.

7th tower section went up today. One more short one and the launch tower will be done.

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Coldrsx · #14 Posted **Jul 3, 2021, 2:56 AM**

I love the update on this, thank you!

aaron38 · #15 Posted **Jul 15, 2021, 2:25 PM**

The launch tower will be topped out soon.

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Hudson11 · #16 Posted **Jul 15, 2021, 3:22 PM**

while that is true, the FAA has taken issue.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...er-2021-07-14/

U.S. warns SpaceX its new Texas launch site tower not yet approved

Quote:

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned Elon Musk's space company SpaceX that its environmental review of a new tower at its Boca Chica launch site in Texas is incomplete and the agency could order SpaceX to take down the tower.

An FAA spokesman said on Wednesday that the agency's environmental review underway of SpaceX’s proposed rocket assembly "integration tower" is "underway," and added that "the company is building the tower at its own risk."

aaron38 · #17 Posted **Jul 16, 2021, 2:39 PM**

Regulatory reform is so drastically needed. The FAA is broken. How does the FAA have jurisdiction over a tower? Towers don't fly. And this tower is nowhere near an airport runway.

Quote:

A May 6 letter from the FAA to SpaceX seen by Reuters said recent construction activity on one of the two proposed towers "may complicate the ongoing environmental review process for the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program." The FAA letter said the tower could be as high as 480 feet.

SpaceX is building something no one has built before. Not even NASA with the Saturn V. There is no way a bunch of FAA bureaucrats have any clue how to perform an "environmental review" on any of this. So far I haven't seen the FAA give one piece of useful input.

Coldrsx · #18 Posted **Jul 18, 2021, 1:55 PM**

^they don't, but having worked on multiple projects near airports or of certain heights we were required to obtain regulatory approval from Transport Canada and it would be at our own peril if not.

95% of the time it was checking a box and courtesy for all intents and purposes, but it had to be done.

It would be absurd if the FAA does not approve this, but until regulations and the regulatory needle is shifted it is in your best interest to get things approved as required.

aaron38 · #19 Posted **Jul 19, 2021, 12:52 PM**

Doing some extra reading, SpaceX does have FAA approval to build the tower. They just don't have FAA approval to use the tower.

Anyway, the 8th section was lifted yesterday, which is the last section. I wouldn't call it topped out though, they still have to build a crane on top.

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dubu · #20 Posted **Jul 19, 2021, 3:38 PM**

that thing is so tall you dont need a rocket. you are already in space imo.