By Marc Boucher
SpaceRef
©SpaceRef/Google (SpaceX proposed Texas spaceport area map.)
In providing a favorable environmental ruling for SpaceX's proposed private spaceport in Cameron County, Texas last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision brings SpaceX one step closer realizing its goal.SpaceX has been pretty coy as to where it would build its private spaceport with Texas being the frontrunner but with other locations always in the mix including Florida, Puerto Rico and other Texas counties.
The company appears to have been playing off each location in its quest to seek the best deal for itself. However, with this decision it appears Texas has the clear advantage though no final decision has been yet.
Exhibit B-1. Area of potential effects for direct effects.
According to the FAA Record of Decision (ROD) "the site (including the control center area and vertical launch area) consists of up to four parcels totaling 68.9 acres of land near the terminus of State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard), adjacent to the village of Boca Chica. The site is in a sparsely populated coastal area on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 3 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, 17 miles eastnortheast of the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, and 5 miles south of South Padre Island."
The FAA ROD outlined SpaceX conducting up to 12 commercial launch operations per year through 2015. This would include Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, which would be limited to two launches per year, and smaller reusable suborbital launch vehicles.
The smaller reusable suborbital launch vehicle could consist of a Falcon 9 stage 1 tank according to the FAA document.
SpaceX would attempt recovery of both 1st and 2nd stages of the Falcon rockets.
According to the FAA SpaceX would have approximately 30 full-time employees or contractors present on-site at the vertical launch area and/or control center area in 2016. Then by 2025, the FAA says there could be as many 150 full-time SpaceX employees or contractors on-site. (So why did the Brownsville Economic Development Council repeatedly say that there would be more than 600 jobs paying at least $55,000 created?)
Exhibit B-2. Area of potential effects for indirect effects.
The payloads Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy could consist of satellites, experimental payloads and the Dragon space capsule.
SpaceX would be limited to launching between 7:00 a.m and 7:00 p.m. with the exception of one night-time launch.
All launch operation would be conducted under SpaceX and FAA control with a letter of Authorization from Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center needed.
Exhibit A-1. Proposed launch operations closure areas.
- Download the complete FAA document (PDF).
For the complete story, click on link: http://spaceref.biz/commercial-space/spacex-private-spaceport-in-texas-another-step-closer-after-faa-decision.html
The company appears to have been playing off each location in its quest to seek the best deal for itself. However, with this decision it appears Texas has the clear advantage though no final decision has been yet.
Exhibit B-1. Area of potential effects for direct effects.
According to the FAA Record of Decision (ROD) "the site (including the control center area and vertical launch area) consists of up to four parcels totaling 68.9 acres of land near the terminus of State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard), adjacent to the village of Boca Chica. The site is in a sparsely populated coastal area on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 3 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, 17 miles eastnortheast of the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, and 5 miles south of South Padre Island."
The FAA ROD outlined SpaceX conducting up to 12 commercial launch operations per year through 2015. This would include Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, which would be limited to two launches per year, and smaller reusable suborbital launch vehicles.
The smaller reusable suborbital launch vehicle could consist of a Falcon 9 stage 1 tank according to the FAA document.
SpaceX would attempt recovery of both 1st and 2nd stages of the Falcon rockets.
According to the FAA SpaceX would have approximately 30 full-time employees or contractors present on-site at the vertical launch area and/or control center area in 2016. Then by 2025, the FAA says there could be as many 150 full-time SpaceX employees or contractors on-site. (So why did the Brownsville Economic Development Council repeatedly say that there would be more than 600 jobs paying at least $55,000 created?)
Exhibit B-2. Area of potential effects for indirect effects.
The payloads Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy could consist of satellites, experimental payloads and the Dragon space capsule.
SpaceX would be limited to launching between 7:00 a.m and 7:00 p.m. with the exception of one night-time launch.
All launch operation would be conducted under SpaceX and FAA control with a letter of Authorization from Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center needed.
Exhibit A-1. Proposed launch operations closure areas.- Download the complete FAA document (PDF).
For the complete story, click on link: http://spaceref.biz/commercial-space/spacex-private-spaceport-in-texas-another-step-closer-after-faa-decision.html
6 comments:
Despite what the article in Huff Post says ("Down Where the River Ends") Brownsville is not a progressive area. No matter what Eduardo Campriano said in the article....being an "All American City" does not a progressive city make. We are far behind McAllen and now we are even behind Harlingen in economic development. Eduardo Campriano thinks that money in his pocket means the area is thriving. NOT!!!
While United Brownsville steals our tax dollars and produces nothing....the areas around us are thriving. Brownsville continues to swirl down the toilet and Musk will not bring his venture to Boca Chica.
Sounds great and it would be nice to have a new industry in Cameron County.....but, since so many of our officials seek an "under the table" offering....we may just lose this launch site. Greedy officials and a border in turmoil don't give us much of a chance. The culture of corruption here is not going to give way to a capitalistic venture without an "open hand" to deal with. The local Democratic Party would prefer ignorance and illegals over smart people. Musk may have heard Tony Zavaleta's pronouncement that Brownsville and the RGV are now colonias for Mexico. Did you see the article "Down Where the River Ends" in the Huff Post......makes Eduardo Campriano a spokesman for Cameron County.....not good. Ranks us behing McAllen and Harlingen.....the progress and development in those cities and just that Brownsville is an "All American City"....a self promotition not an indication of progress....most bike trails for lease number of bikes, nothing about financial success, unless we consider money laundering at
IBC and other banks a progressive business enterprise.
Please read "Down Where the River Ends" in Huff Post.
When the Cubans arrived in Bro. to develop real estate economic development, and left a few shaft years later, I asked the Cuban head-honcho why they were leaving. He responded : " Conyo, estados en el Culo del diablo, la gente no tiene interés para nada. Nos regresamos a Miami. Allí sí".
Don't forget that some of those very cubans you speak of spent a little time as guest of the federal government at one of those detention (prison) facilities for bank fraud, and the others that bilked PUB out of millions in infrastructure money for their development.
I am willing to bet that the launch site is going to be further inland. There's going to be too many issues if they make it close to the gulf.
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