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SpaceX acquires former oil rigs to serve as floating Starship spaceports
SpaceX has acquired two former oil drilling rigs to serve as these floating spaceports. Named Phobos and Deimos, after the two moons of Mars, they are currently undergoing modifications to support Starship launch operations.
SpaceX has long been hinting at future floating launch and landing sites for their Starship launch system. The super heavy lift launch vehicle will have a large blast danger area and pose noise concerns if launched frequently near populated areas. Therefore, sea launch platforms will play a key role in the launch cadence SpaceX plans to reach with Starship, including on-orbit refueling flights for deep space missions and transportation from one place to another on Earth.
Job postings by SpaceX have indicated that work on offshore launch platforms has begun in Brownsville, Texas, near their Starship manufacturing and launch facilities in Boca Chica.
SpaceX purchased the rigs from the bankrupt owner for $3.5 million each. They may have cost around $500 million each to build.
See also: SpaceX's second Super Heavy booster enters production in South Texas
Previously: SpaceX Wants to Build Floating Spaceports for Daily Starship Launches
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Thursday January 21 2021, @04:02PM
They want to launch from the rigs, not just land on them. See the previous story. Thrust and noise generated by full Starship + Super Heavy will be significant. Although they have done a good job at driving away residents of Boca Chica Village, I guess it's not enough. Also, if they decide to do Starship point-to-point airline travel (still seems sketchy), they would need to launch and land from similar offshore platforms near major coastal cities.
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