Comments on: FAA environmental decision clears the way for SpaceX Texas spaceport

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:41:22 +0000

Does this approval cover landings as well as launches at this site? As far as I know SpaceX is planning to land all of its launch vehicles on solid ground at some point in the near future.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 02:33:01 +0000

Oh it’ll bring significant advantages for SpaceX. They will be able to clean-sheet the spaceport specifically to their requirements without consideration to any other party. It’ll be an example of how to do a really clean commercial environment and it’ll show up the significant waste that goes with government and semi-government pads.
On the downside, well, there probably isn’t any given their experience gained with pads so far. None that I can see anyway.
Cheers.

By: Howard

Howard — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:43:19 +0000

I sure wonder what the other criteria are, that SpaceX refers to. Tax advantages, maybe? Infrastructure expectations (i.e. roads, comm, border security, etc)?

The Floridian mentioned they really wanted SpaceX’ s business. I wonder what Florida couldn’t do “in time”.

I also wonder if being a brand-new spaceport brings enough of its own advantages. Less influence by established players, for example. Then again, breaking new ground has its own challenges.