2022: The Year of Domination for SpaceX

[Electroman]

Given there is a very close population center (South Padre) which is only what 5 miles away, I wonder how they get the permission to launch the biggest and the most powerful rocket, even once?

 

[scaesare]

Didn't they basically try to buy out the town at one point?

 

[ecarfan]

Didn't they basically try to buy out the town at one point?

SpaceX tried to buy all the homes in the tiny community of Boca Chica, immediately adjacent to the Starbase production facilities. Go to GPS 25.99164° N, 97.18334° W to see that location. There are still a few residents there who have refused to sell.

As far as I know, SpaceX never tried to buy the town of South Padre, which has about 3,000 residents and is 6-12 miles north of the Starbase launch site. That seems far enough away to be safe from launch pad RUDs.

 

[scaesare]

SpaceX tried to buy all the homes in the tiny community of Boca Chica, immediately adjacent to the Starbase production facilities. Go to GPS 25.99164° N, 97.18334° W to see that location. There are still a few residents there who have refused to sell.

As far as I know, SpaceX never tried to buy the town of South Padre, which has about 3,000 residents and is 6-12 miles north of the Starbase launch site. That seems far enough away to be safe from launch pad RUDs.

Ah ok... didn't recall which it was... thanks for clarifying...

 

[ecarfan]

Eric Berger: After doubling launch record in 2022, can SpaceX take another step up in 2023?

In 2022 SpaceX was able to dramatically increase its launch cadence by both ramping up Starlink satellite production as well as maturing its operations to reuse Falcon 9 first stages and payload fairings. Previously, from 2017 to 2021, SpaceX averaged 22 launches a year, with an annual record of 31 flights in 2021. Last year the company very nearly doubled its previous record.

The question for the new year, therefore, is whether SpaceX can take another leap in cadence. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said in August 2022 that the company aimed to launch 100 rockets in 2023. That seems like the upper bound of what is possible; however, given that the company was able to launch seven rockets in December, it is perhaps not unreachable in terms of raw production.

 

[Cattledog]

Eric Berger: After doubling launch record in 2022, can SpaceX take another step up in 2023?

Interesting that it will target 100.

 

[Grendal]

SpaceX is mentioned a few times: