SpaceX Wins FAA Permission To Build a Spaceport In Texas

Jason Koebler writes SpaceX just got approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to build a 56.5-acre spaceport along the Gulf of Mexico on the Texas-Mexico border—a huge step toward actually making the spaceport a reality. Wednesday, the FAA, which handles all commercial space launch permitting in the United States, issued what's known as a "Record of Decision" that suggests the agency would allow the company to launch 10 Falcon 9 rockets and two Falcon Heavy rockets per year out of the spaceport, through at least 2025.

Comments

better map link

[Trepidity]

If you can't read the scaled-down map reproduced from the report in the linked blog post, you can either look on p. 54 of the PDF, or else here's the site on OpenStreetMap. It appears it's not just that they're being given permission for the launches, but also that they're being given use of the land: the approved launch site is Texas state-owned land in Boca Chica State Park, which they'll be allowed to construct a facility on, and use for a certain number of days/year.

Re:better map link

[sycodon]

Now it's just 5 years of environmental studies, lawsuits and billion dollar "mitigation" measures.

Re:Say what?

[pushing-robot]

We are required by law to deport illegal aliens to their point of origin.

Further information on this subject is classified.

Hope their hull is bulletproof.

[retech]

Took a job in Brownsville. Left Detroit. Flew down there. In the course of 6 months... The university campus was closed because of a cartel fight that saw bullets crossing the border and hitting classrooms. The daily headcount of dumped bodies (on either side) was greater than Detroit's. Crossed, over to go out to eat. The building across the street had two grenades lobbed into it while we ate. Mind you, this was less than .5 miles from Brownsville.

The area that they want to build (actually have been building for a while now) is flooded during spring break with high school and university kids. It's cheap, beach, and poorly patrolled. If you work for them, you'll have to live in Brownsville and deal with the beach crap for 6 weeks a year.

I really cannot think of a less desirable location to build this "space port".

Re:Hope their hull is bulletproof.

[retech]

Used to. The published numbers just do not show the reality. Between friends and family in B-ville and McAllen and knowing the number of shootings and car bombings they've witnessed, not one of them get's to the news. Hell, at my job down there, (worked for the state) we were told to NOT post any stuff on social media like: "OMG there was a shooting outside the mall today." One morning there was a shootout at the mall, 3 ppl hit. I thought surely this would make the news. Not a word of it anywhere.

Re:Mexico

[HornWumpus]

Borders are binary and there are already treaties/conventions in place regarding airspace.

For example, Spain would love to close Gebralter's airport. But the rules only let them be a huge pain in the ass.

In other words, why should we?

Name your spaceport

[Trogre]

I vote Mos Eisley.

After all, where else would one find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy, outside of Washington that is...

Re:Spaceport along the Gulf of Mexico

[HornWumpus]

Taco Smell is a Yum foods brand. Owned by the Japanese.

Yum Foods brands are universally the worst in their class. Yum brands: Kentucky Fried Rat, Taco Hell, A&W, Booger King, Pizza Hut and Arby's. Nothing that can be fairly called 'food' served at any of them.

I used to occasionally eat a taco bell taco. Didn't think it was good, but it was a childhood memory/comfort food in a weird way. Then I fed my dogs a couple of cans of Old Roy brand beef canned dog food and immediately headed for Taco Bell. When I got there I was hit in the face by the smell of Old Roy brand beef canned dog food. Haven't touched it sense.