On Monday, Spaceflight Now reported that the US Department of the Air Force issued its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which considers proposed modifications from SpaceX to Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg.
These modifications will include changes to support launches of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, the construction of two new landing pads for Falcon boosters adjacent to SLC-6, the demolition of unneeded structures at SLC-6, and increasing SpaceX’s permitted launch cadence from Vandenberg from 50 launches to 100.
Back in April of 2023, SpaceX took over control of SLC-6 to add to the SLC-4E capability they had been using.
The transformation of SLC-6 would include quite a bit of overhaul. Its most recent tenant, United Launch Alliance, previously used it for Delta IV rockets from 2006 through its final launch in September 2022. The following year, the Space Force handed over the launch pad to SpaceX, which lacked a pad at Vandenberg capable of supporting Falcon Heavy missions. The estimated launch cadence between SpaceX’s existing Falcon 9 pad at Vandenberg, known as SLC-4E, and SLC-6 would be a 70-11 split for Falcon 9 rockets in 2026, with one Falcon Heavy at SLC-6, for a total of 82 launches. That would increase to a 70-25 Falcon 9 split in 2027 and 2028, with an estimated five Falcon Heavy launches in each of those years.
To support the Falcon Heavy launches, SpaceX will build two landing pads near
SLC-6, much like Landing Zones 1 and 2 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
and the already existing landing pad closer to SLC-4E. The two SLC-6
landing pads are each 280 feet in diameter with each poured concrete pad
surrounded by a 60-foot gravel apron.
A 2023 SpaceX rendering of a Falcon Heavy at SLC-6 on Vandenberg SFB. Image
credit to SpaceX
This approval is after review of an Environmental Impact Study so we have to consider the approval to proceed as tentative. A 45-day public review and comment period on the Draft EIS runs from May 23 through July 7. The Final EIS is anticipated to be published in the Fall of 2025 with a Record of Decision potentially issued no earlier than 30 days after the Final EIS is issued. While I have no way of knowing how many of you who visit here might be interested in commenting, it's always possible some people are. Here's a link to more information from the Spaceflight Now site. "Click here for information about submitting a comment on the Draft EIS and reviewing the associated documents."
Launch of a Falcon 9 from SLC-6E on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Screen capture
from SpaceX video. Vandenberg is a pretty place when it's not pea soup fog and
you can actually see the place.
Although not mentioned in either of the two sources I used for this, I've read in the local papers that an Environmental Impact Study is starting (or will be) for Starship operations on the Kennedy Space Center. The concern is that the noise levels may exceed safe limits. Unsurprisingly, the opposition to SpaceX seems to be headed by United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin. The first source I found is comments to the FAA by Blue Origin (pdf). I want to see Starships launching from the KSC ASAP. Boca Chica's 50/year, sounds like a nice number.
Vandenberg is pretty even when the fog is as thick as pea soup. Lived in Santa Maria and then on base from 64 to 70. Dad's office overlooked the rail line that brought Minutemen in so we could sometimes see stuff others didn't.
ReplyDeleteGlad that SpaceX is utilizing the facilities there. I was very unhappy when the Shuttle launch facilities were first built wrong and then cancelled.
As to noise, easiest way to abate a good portion of the sound would be to build noise berms, maybe with a concrete wall on top. Most of the launch noise comes from startup and the first few feet leaving the pad as the exhaust goes sideways when it hits the ground.
Actually, as you hinted at, the easiest way to cancel noise would be to tell ULA and BO to shut the copulation up.
It would be funny if the noise level issues, if they hit SpaceX, come back to bite ULA and BO in their overstuffed posteriors.
Hey, something interesting, nobody seemed to complain much in Florida, when they launched all the space shuttles, that rocket was LOUD with them honking huge SRB's.
DeleteOr the Saturn V, which was really really loud. I missed being on the Space Coast when they were launched, Skylab launched 2 months before we arrived. We did get to experience all the Saturn 1B launches, that being the Skylab crew missions and Apollo-Soyuz and the far less powerful 1B was as loud as the Shuttle.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see how the area handles the first Starship launch. Which begs the question, how are they going to get said Starship to the Cape? Are they going to launch a Cape-built Starship or are they going to catch a Boca-launched Starship or are they going to barge one over?
Fun times are ahead as long as the courts and the NIMBYs shut the heck up.
I remembered a story from last June about the FAA soliciting comments on Starship launches from the KSC. They're afraid of their windows rattling. Granted I'm farther away from the launch site than the complainer (Cocoa Village), but I see it as a feature, not something to live in fear of. They're afraid of the water being used to suppress the sound and protect the launch site.
DeleteI've read some of the back and forth surrounding Starbase Boca Chica and it's the same NIMBY stuff. They complain about the waste water in Boca Chica, too, when it's pretty much city water stored in big tanks until they spray it during the launch. Methane burning is one of the simplest chemical reactions you'll ever find. Methane and oxygen burn to produce carbon dioxide (plant food) and water (also vital for plants). So take city water and basically make carbonated water out of it and it's scary. Isn't "carbonated water" the description of club soda? Perrier?
Ahem, we live in a society of, ahem, cough cough, faggots karens and limp you know what. Its a definite commentary about the decline of Western Christian civilization where fear and envy seem to vie with the victim stance, (a very strong one unfortunateky), for who can complain and bitch the loudest. I truly wonder what on God's Earth do they all think, or do they, critically that is, our civilization came about to begin with.
DeleteMore I see of it, older I grow, the more it appears the people of the American Colonial era had the best thing going, pre Revolution speaking, its a little studied era regards how well and finely people managed life, economy and that periods high skilled handcraft manufacturing and agriculture. Lot of great lessons, a great shame the Compact of Confederation was highjacked never had a time to suss itself out into a working theory. I think Gary North was quite right about his theory regarding political polytheism, and Conspiracy in Philadelphia, such a great piece in itself, which time seems to prove more and more accurate. And look where some people are orientated, their world view, which to them is the most important thing in the world, how dare anything come between them and it.
SpaceX posted on their site, flight 9 Tuesday at 6:30pm. Hope it flies true. The post mentions why they are not going for the booster catch, said they were going to stretch the booster to its limits, different angle of attack on tower approach, and try extreme engine out combinations. Excellent. Very cool! A good final use of an outdated booster.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what pushes those changes to an EIS over an EA. Doesn't seem to me like that should need an EIS.
ReplyDelete(I give opinions on that to my boss who makes the decision as local Authorized Officer.)
I assume California coastal issues have something to do with it.
Jonathan
While I know nothing about who's involved here, I assume California government issues have something to do with it. Whether that's the state EPA's Green Magic, or they just want to block Musk in any way they can, I have no idea.
DeleteI went back to this and followed the links. The FRN you referenced came out in December 2024; there have been public meetings and more developments since then. You can read more at the project website: https://www.vsfbfalconlauncheis.com/
ReplyDeleteThis EIS is a collaboration between the Air Force, the Coast Guard, and the FAA.
Still haven't figured out what pushes it to EIS level, but as I read I assume I'll find their reasons.
Jonathan