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> One wonders if they will deliver completed vehicles to the real launch sites by ("test") launching from Boca Chica. I don't think you need a Starship on top

> One wonders if they will deliver completed vehicles to the real launch sites by ("test") launching from Boca Chica. I don't think you need a Starship on top to launch the booster, although a cone hat seems advisable. I was just trying to imagine a booster delivery flight path. I'm assuming orbital otherwise FAA has appropriate concerns. So north of Cuba, achieve orbital speed for one orbit, de-orbit burn to re-enter aiming past Florida, and then landing burn to get you back over Cape Canaveral? Is it that straight forward? Would that be allowed? Would they need to dog leg to avoid flying over mainland USA?

ncmncm 5y ago
The booster is not orbital, and would not survive the trip home in any case. (Although one wonders if it could go single-stage-to-orbit without SS on top. That would be another first!) A 1100 mile sub-orbital hop past Key West aimed to splash down just short of the Bahamas in case of trouble, then boost north, then brake offshore and fly to 39A. Maybe an unladen Starship could make such a hop by itself. If not, a booster could assist on the first leg and come back.
- yellowapple 5y ago
  > (Although one wonders if it could go single-stage-to-orbit without SS on top. That would be another first!) On that note, I recall reading somewhere that the top part is at least in theory SSTO-capable without payload.
  - ncmncm 5y ago
    If it could get to orbit, then it ought to be able to get to Florida.
  - simonh 5y ago
    The current iterations are a bit over-engineered. A fully optimised later version that's slimmed down the design might do it without any payload, fins or heat shield. Maybe.