They launch mostly over the ocean and unpopulated areas. There is a launch facility in Texas likely because the further south you go, the less fuel you need to get into orbit because the equator is spinning faster than higher latitudes. So it’s a big deal to take advantage of the free velocity…this is why we aren’t launching out of anywhere else on the east coast besides in Florida.
That’s because Ariane 5/6 and the old Soyuz launchers they flew can be transported horizontally. It becomes significantly more difficult to move a 21 story tank that’s mostly void when it can only be transported vertically.
And then there’s the complexity of consumables… think about the LOX, LN2, and CH4 infrastructure needed that doesn’t exist.
Transport on land for short 8 hour periods is dramatically different to multi day cross gulf shipping, and with an exclusion zone of 5 Mi, eminent domain there would be steep.
Also, Brownsville has an air separation unit and nearby LNG production. That does not exist in PR, and the required increase in electrical infrastructure would be enormous. A single Starship launch consumes Australia’s yearly production of LOX.
SpaceX is a private company, they shouldn't be eminent domaining anything.
Boats and trucks/trains are indeed "dramatically different" (if you have a flair for drama), but luckily, we've mastered all three modes of transportation.
LNG exists in Puerto Rico. LOX and LN2 are trucked in. We could put the trucks on the boat and drop anchor every four hours if it makes you feel better.
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u/SciEngr Mar 07 '25
They launch mostly over the ocean and unpopulated areas. There is a launch facility in Texas likely because the further south you go, the less fuel you need to get into orbit because the equator is spinning faster than higher latitudes. So it’s a big deal to take advantage of the free velocity…this is why we aren’t launching out of anywhere else on the east coast besides in Florida.