(Please note: The giddy article below does not represent the position of MMB on putting a launch pad at Boca Chica. We thinks it's a bad idea on several levels at THAT location, but being aware of the press releases being generated is part of our education process.)
by Mark Whittington of the Houston Space News Examiner
SpaceX has launched its Falcon 9 rocket from a pad near the Kennedy Space Center, most recently for the successful mission that delivered cargo to the International Space Station. SpaceX would like its own launch facility, however, and the Brownsville site has a number of advantages. It is not only close to SpaceX’s McGregor facility, located near Waco, but also near the Johnson Spaceflight Center south of Houston. If and when SpaceX begins ferrying people on its Dragon spacecraft, the training facilities at JSC will be crucial for that operation.
The state of Texas has shown enthusiasm for the project, promising a package of economic incentives. People in the Brownsville area have shown overwhelming support for the project, especially for the hundreds of high paying, high tech jobs that the spaceport would bring.
Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo andThe Last Moonwalker. He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times, and The Weekly Standard.
There are a lot of people in this community and throughout the state and nation who will argue strongly to protect wildlife, but seem to not be so active to protect human life. This community is regressing and needs something to bring us into the new world and out of the third world. While most of the people I know would support SpaceX, there are many who wish for the city to continue to wallow in ignorance and remain more aligned to the third world than the rest of this state and nation. As McAllen progresses, Brownsville regresses and remains mired in their colonia mentality.
ReplyDelete"SpaceX has launched its Falcon 9 rocket from a pad near the Kennedy Space Center, most recently for the successful mission that delivered cargo to the International Space Station. SpaceX would like its own launch facility, however, and the Brownsville site has a number of advantages. It is not only close to SpaceX’s McGregor facility, located near Waco, but also near the Johnson Spaceflight Center south of Houston..."
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of nebulous disinformation that is being promoted by people like the writer who seems unaware that no less than Steven Davis, SpaceX's director of advanced projects, has flatly asserted that no missions (read it again: no missions) to the International Space Center can be made from a launch pad on Boca Chica).
Other statements are of the same ilk.
NASA's Kennedy Space Center launch headquarters is located in Orlando Florida for a reason, rockets can be launched on a 42-degree trajectory without going over populated areas, a no-no with the FAA.If such a launch azimuth was tried in Brownsville, the rocket would have to travel over Corpus Christi or Houston. In other words, it is scientifically impossible to reach the ISS with a Brownsville launch. Studies by NASA and DOD have made this abundantly clear since 1961.
Again, what SpaceX wants is a run-of-the-mill, bare-bones launch pad to launch small payloads such as weather and communications satellites. And there is still some question whether it has the skill to "thread the needle" between Florida and Cuba.
The other misleading statement on this fluff piece is " If and when SpaceX begins ferrying people on its Dragon spacecraft, the training facilities at JSC will be crucial for that operation..."
Read my lips: No manned spacecraft is envisioned for the Boca Chica site. Like a trip to the ISS, its launch azimuth cannot be accomplished from here without the same problems confronting resupply trips to the ISS.
Yeah, the jobs would be nice. But let's go into this with our eyes wide open.
"it is scientifically impossible to reach the ISS with a Brownsville launch. Studies by NASA and DOD have made this abundantly clear since 1961". So, are you saying that the ISS was in existence in 1961?
DeleteAnd what if they only launch small payloads? I guess it would theoretically be less damaging to the environment in that case...and small payloads are better than no payloads, since they require people working and getting paid...
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ReplyDeleteJuan, the next time Barton posts a comment on your blog, no matter how important or interesting it may seem, just delete it. We will all back you up.
DeleteJuan Limon
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ReplyDeleteAnd from jmon too? Poor boy must be drunk again, at the Palm Lounge.
Julio
So when you can't argue with valid scientific facts you resort to invective, innuendo and personal insults? Then again, Galileo was labeled a heretic for speaking the truth. No, the ISS wasn't around in 1961, but it's location makes it impossible for launches from Brownsville to get a rocket there. Here, argue with SpaceX's own drunk. I don't think he goes to the Palm Lounge. Steven Davis (310) 245-2197 (mobile).
ReplyDeleteJust let Brownsville DESTROY itself that is the way its going.The so called City Leaders do not listen to the "TAXPAYERS" so they are gonna end up doing whatever they want .They think that by making parties at City Parks is gonna shut up the "TAXPAYERS" concerns and IDEAS for OUR City.Its gonna be fun when Space X takes over OUR Beach I just want to see who am I gonna blame for it when they figure out Space X was and is a mistake.
ReplyDelete