4 ms·

Is their capacity limited by rocket construction or pad operations?

jessriedel 10y ago
It's a bit a both right now, but I think the constraints from launch sites become much more relaxed in a couple of years when Boca Chica opens up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_South_Texas_Launch_Site https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_South_Texas_Launch_Site
- artursapek 10y ago
  Is there a reason launch pads tend to be on a shore?
  - zaphoyd 10y ago
    Rockets generally want to fly over unpopulated areas to avoid raining debris on people should they explode. They get a boost as well when flying east due to the earths rotation. As a result, launch pads are located in areas where the rocket will be able to fly east over an ocean or unpopulated area.
    - WalterBright 10y ago
      > a boost as well when flying east due to the earths rotation This will slow the earth's rotation slightly. Future generations will rue our profligate wastage of earth's angular momentum.
      - bashinator 10y ago
        If that's a problem, then I'll be a happy ancestor
      - dotancohen 10y ago
        If the hardware comes back down then it's returning the angular momentum on burn-up or landing. Only interplanetary hardware is robbing posterity of angular momentum.
      - snowwrestler 10y ago
        Stop Global Slowing!
        TeMPOraL 10y ago
        Or at least #SlowGlobalSlowing!
      - AstralStorm 10y ago
        We can always launch more rockets the other way.
  - schoen 10y ago
    My understanding is to make it less likely to hit populated areas in case of a launch failure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_safety https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_safety https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelsat_708 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelsat_708 There's an energy benefit for some launches at lower latitudes, but that's separate from being near an ocean: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-most-launches-to-orbit-take-place-at-low-latitudes https://www.quora.com/Why-do-most-launches-to-orbit-take-pla...
  - benzofuran 10y ago
    typically it's for if things go poorly - a lot less mess to clean up if it's on the bottom of the sea
nickik 10y ago
Currently pad operations. Soon, building of second stages.

It's a bit a both right now, but I think the constraints from launch sites become much more relaxed in a couple of years when Boca Chica opens up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_South_Texas_Launch_Site https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_South_Texas_Launch_Site

artursapek 10y ago
Is there a reason launch pads tend to be on a shore?
- zaphoyd 10y ago
  Rockets generally want to fly over unpopulated areas to avoid raining debris on people should they explode. They get a boost as well when flying east due to the earths rotation. As a result, launch pads are located in areas where the rocket will be able to fly east over an ocean or unpopulated area.
  - WalterBright 10y ago
    > a boost as well when flying east due to the earths rotation This will slow the earth's rotation slightly. Future generations will rue our profligate wastage of earth's angular momentum.
    - bashinator 10y ago
      If that's a problem, then I'll be a happy ancestor
    - dotancohen 10y ago
      If the hardware comes back down then it's returning the angular momentum on burn-up or landing. Only interplanetary hardware is robbing posterity of angular momentum.
    - snowwrestler 10y ago
      Stop Global Slowing!
      - TeMPOraL 10y ago
        Or at least #SlowGlobalSlowing!
    - AstralStorm 10y ago
      We can always launch more rockets the other way.
- schoen 10y ago
  My understanding is to make it less likely to hit populated areas in case of a launch failure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_safety https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_safety https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelsat_708 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelsat_708 There's an energy benefit for some launches at lower latitudes, but that's separate from being near an ocean: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-most-launches-to-orbit-take-place-at-low-latitudes https://www.quora.com/Why-do-most-launches-to-orbit-take-pla...
- benzofuran 10y ago
  typically it's for if things go poorly - a lot less mess to clean up if it's on the bottom of the sea

nickik 10y ago

Currently pad operations. Soon, building of second stages.