Isn’t it considered inefficient to launch off the west coast?
Usually needed for polar orbits, secret military launches in a weird orbit, etc., ones that can’t be done from the Cape.
Sounds like they are going to ship them to Florida. Why didn’t they just find some place in Florida to build them?
I wouldn’t want a BFR I built to be exposed to a sea voyage from California to Florida.
West coast is great for launching satellites into polar orbit due to the earth’s spin. Satellites launched into GEO are best to be launched as close to the equator to save on maneuvering fuel needed to correct the injection orbit’s initial inclination which will be based off of the latitude of the launch facility. Maybe Elon is going to go the Sea Launch route and ship his BFR down south an launch from there though it would require a flotilla of ships to provide landing support for the spent boosters.
BFR? BIG F_____NG ROCKET?
Big F’ing Rocket?
It depends own the final orbit desired.
The west coast is preferred for polar orbits because the launch goes over water. This is mostly earth observation satellites, both DoD and commercial.
Canaveral is preferred for all other launches because they get a boost from the earth's rotational velocity.
I think the plan would be to load it on a ship and transport to a launch facility on the east coast. I don't know if the Panama canal is involved, but I bet it is.
the drone ship Just Read The Instructions (JRTI)
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Sounds like a (Iain M Banks) Culture vessel name ...