Starbase Launch/Testing Site

View of the launch site with Booster 10 (B10) on the OLM and Ship 28 (S28) on Suborbital Pad B (Credit:SpaceX)

## Infrastructure

### See also

Launch Complex 39A, Construction/Building Site, OLS Tank Farm

Starbase Launch/Testing Site in Boca Chica, Texas is the area, where SpaceX conducts static fire testing of Ships and Booster and launches of full stack starship prototypes. This area has been subject to numerous plan changes and is undergoing constant development.

This article provides an overview over the launch/testing site, including its history and infrastructure.

## Areas and Infrastructure

The launch site consists out of two main areas. The first area to built was the Suborbital Launch Site (SoLS). The second one is the Orbital Launch Site (OLS).

## Infrastructure

### See also

Massey Outpost

The Suborbital Launch Site was orignally the area where SpaceX conducted testing of suborbital prototypes for both ground and flight testing purposes. However, after the successful flight of SN15 , no more suborbital flights were held at this site. Following the completion of suborbital flights at the site, cryogenic testing for both ships and boosters was subsequently moved to Massey Outpost. This relocation occurred after a period of cryogenic testing had already taken place at the Suborbital Launch Site after the flight of SN15. After the flight of SN15 the landing site was re-purposed for tanks for the Orbital Launch Site.

It is planned for the Suborbital Launch Site to be fully decommissioned, and the process of decommissioning has already begun. As part of this process, Pad A has been demolished and there are plans to repurpose the area for a second Orbital Launch Mount and Tower. However before Pad B can be demolished, Massey Outpost must be ready to preform ship static fire tests.

The following list includes the most important infrastructure of the SoLS:

* SoLS tank farm
* Test stand, pad B
* GSE Bunker
* Earth wall (berm) between tank farm and pads
* Starhopper
* Retrooms and support shed

## Specifications

### Facility type

Booster Static Fire testing and full stack ground and flight testing

## Infrastructure

### See also

Integration Tower (IT)

The Orbital Launch Site is the area, where SpaceX conducts Full stacks test flights, Wet Dress Rehearsals and Booster Static Fires. The following infrastructure is part of the OLS:

* OLS Tank Farm
	+ GSE tanks and shells
	+ Horizontal CH4 and LOX subcoolers (heat exchangers)
	+ GSE bunker
	+ Large horizontal CH4 tanks
	+ Middle sized horizontal tanks
* Launch and integration tower
	+ Catch and stack arms "Chopsticks"
	+ QD (Quick disconnect) arm
* Orbital launch mount (OLM)
* Power and comms building
* Earth wall (berm) between tank farm and tower

## History of plans

A main source for the development is the environmeltal impact statement and its ammendments, published on the FAA site.

### May 2014 - FEIS

The final environmental impact statement from May 2014 is a four volume assessment prepared by the FAA for the SpaceX Texas launch sites environmental impact.

It was planned to use this site "to conduct launches of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy orbital vertical launch vehicles and a variety of reusable suborbital launch vehicles" (Volume I, p. 75). In chapter 2.1.2 construction activities are outlined:

#### Vertical Launch area

Proposed facility and infrastructure construction at the vertical launch area would include the following:

* Integration and Processing Hangar (Hangar)
* Launch pad and stand with its associated flame duct
* Water tower
* Lightning protection towers (four total)
* Retention basin for deluge water
* Propellant storage and handling areas
* Workshop and office area
* Warehouse for parts storage
* Roads, parking areas, fencing, security, lighting, and utilities

### October 2017 - Re-evaluation

At the vertical launch area (VLA), SpaceX proposed adding a 1400 feet security fence and approximately 800 feet of associated security road adjacent to the fence.

### May 2019 - Re-evaluation

As SpaceX now has now specified its Starship testing program, several major changes are being proposed. These include:

* Specification of the experimental test program, including starship and phases [to be described in the main article, linked here]
* New commodities for the "Control center area" for phase one and two of the program
* New commodities for the vertical launch area (VLA, test site) for phase one and two of the program

### 13 June 2022 - Mitigated FONSI on environmental assessment

The FAA published the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Final PEA) and Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (Mitigated FONSI/ROD) for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (PEA) on June 13, 2022.

* Executive Summary
* Mitigated FONSI
* Final PEA

Plans for a desalination plant, natural gas pretreatment system, liquefier and power plant have been removed:

* Desalination plant has been removed as it would be needed to facilitate deluge for the Launch Site. SpaceX has not determined whether to use deluge, but in the event it will, the water will be trucked.
* Natural gas pretreatment system and liquefier were removed because of the advantages in Raptor 2, allowing the engine to use commercial liquid natural gas.
* Power plant has been removed as it would be needed only for natural gas pretreatment system and liquefier.

General information:

* SpaceX still proposes 500 hours of annual road closures for testing & launch operations, with 300 additional hours annually for possible wreckage cleanup after a failure.
* Around 400 tanker trucks would be required for an orbital launch.
* SpaceX is still considering landing on the islands in Pacific Ocean if their downrange landing capabilities increase.
* SpaceX is proposing up to **5 orbital launches and 5 Ship suborbital launches annually.**

List of mitigations (Summary):

* **Air Quality**:
	+ Periodic water spraying to minimize amount of dust.
	+ Watering of soils to be disturbed.
	+ Minimal idling of engines.
	+ Use of low volatility coatings.
* **Climate**: **NONE**
* **Noise**:
	+ Announce the time of upcoming launch & landing operations.
	+ Overall impact of sonic booms should not be significant.
	+ SpaceX needs to carry in the amount of the ,,Maximum Probable Loss” which was determined to be up to $500 million per launch.
* **Visual effects**:
	+ Exterior lights are limited to minimal number required to reach their goals
	+ Minimize the visibility from the beach with directing, shielding, positioning, minimizing the light spread, uplighting and turning lighting off if not needed.
	+ Issue annual notices reminding of lighting restrictions to personnel prior to turtle nesting season.
	+ Monitoring the lighting at the Launch Site to verify SpaceX’s compliance with the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site Lighting Management
	+ Lighting inspections with a qualified biologist to remove unnecessary lights prior to the turtle nesting/hatching season, and conduct weekly inspections during the turtle nesting/hatching season (March 15th - October 1st).
* **Cultural Resources**:
	+ Installing utility lines underground to limit visibility from historical places.
	+ Prepare historical reports of the Mexican War and Civil War.
	+ Fund educational outreach, 5 signs describing historical events in the area.
	+ Implement measures to limit sounds from trucks, conduct vibration monitoring program.
	+ In case of an anomaly, hire a qualified specialist to make recommendations for restoration of historical markers.
* **Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f)**:
	+ Cleanup of the wreckage from anomalies, restore the land and roads
	+ Notify about access restrictions (road closures) 1-2 weeks in advance (2 days as plans finalize).
	+ Road closures are not possible on most of the public holidays and on weekends if Monday/Friday are part of it.
	+ Only five possible closures on weekends annually, with every counted as used if not cancelled a day prior to a closure.

### 15 November 2023 - Written reevaluation and info on upgrades

On 15 November 2023, the fish and wildlife service completed the written re-evaluation, thus enabling the FAA to grant the launch license for IFT-2. This follows several inspections on ground, such as on 19 October, 25 October and 2 Novmeber 2023 when FWS teams inspected the deluge discharge zone and nearby wetlands. See also ->Starship Flight Test 2#26 October 2023 - FWS Statement for the announcement. Main points are:

* The deluge tanks have a capacity of 358,000 gallons
* Launches are expected to use only 132,000 gallons maximum, so it is possible the system could be used twice.
* Static Fires will use approximately 72,000 gallons.
* SpaceX will be able to use the deluge up to 30 times a year under this WR.
* The nitrogen purge to activate the deluge operates at 3000 psi.
* A launch is expected to ablate up to 190 pounds of steel from the plate.
* 92% of the deluge water is expected to be vaporized.
* SpaceX is expected to add up to 30,000 gallons of additional retention pond storage.
* Retention pond water can be reused if it passes environmental testing, otherwise the pond water must be shipped out for waste.
* The WR finds no significant environmental impacts are expected to wildlife or vegetation at this time and no mitigations are required by SpaceX at this time.
* As always the FWS can come back and request a new WR and changes if impacts beyond expectations are found.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/about/office\_org/headquarters\_offices/ast/environmental/nepa\_docs/review/launch/spacex\_texas\_launch\_site\_environmental\_impact\_statement/
2. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder\_engagement/spacex\_starship
3. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/stakeholderengagement/spacexstarship/final-programmatic-environmental-assessment-pea-executive
4. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/stakeholderengagement/spacexstarship/spacex-starship-super-heavy-boca-chica-fonsi-rod
5. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/stakeholderengagement/spacexstarship/assessment-spacex-starshipsuper-heavy-launch-vehicle-program
6. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/media/72766 [link broken]
7. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1174384486973194270
8. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1164606144510177392
9. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1166728430398746755
10. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1169659697385701478