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Port Canaveral Considers Charging SpaceX 14 Times Normal Fee For Booster Return
universetoday.com ^ | 06/22/2016 | Evan Gough

Posted on 06/24/2016 7:53:08 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Port Canaveral is the facility that SpaceX relies on in its operations. Spent boosters are recovered aboard their drone ship, which docks at the Port. They are then offloaded from the drone ship with SpaceX’s special crane, loaded onto a truck and delivered to Kennedy Space Center.

All of this activity puts a special strain on the Port’s facilities, according to Rodger Rees, the port’s deputy executive director and chief financial officer. In a memo to port commissioners, he said “Due to the heavy weight and the effect of this weight on the port’s berths, staff is recommending that the tariff be expanded to include a wharfage charges category for aerospace/aircraft items.”

So far, SpaceX has transported 3 recovered boosters through Port Canaveral. The rationalization for the fee increase is based on some minor damage caused to the Port, and on the increased wear and tear that 30 ton boosters will have on the Port and its structures. SpaceX’s special crane also takes up space at the Port.

But SpaceX isn’t being singled out. The Port is trying to develop a fee structure for private space companies, who are expected to proliferate in the future and require port facilities the same way SpaceX does.

“As new aerospace companies relocate to the Space Coast, it is anticipated that the port will need to accommodate items of a similar nature in the future, and will retain the right to negotiate these future charges, if needed,” said Rees in the same memo.

(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 06/24/2016 7:53:08 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Apparently the Port Authority finally found out that elon gots big bucks. Spent a LOT of time in Port Canaveral over the 24 years we lived in the area.


2 posted on 06/24/2016 7:58:09 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: BenLurkin

Coming Soon! SpaceX commerical port.

Come offload your cargo withouth the exorbitant fees.

They could get theirs for free just by charging a nominal fee


3 posted on 06/24/2016 7:58:51 AM PDT by Mr. K (Trump will win NY state - choke on that HilLIARy)
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To: rktman

Apparently the Port Authority finally found out that elon gots big bucks. Spent a LOT of time in Port Canaveral over the 24 years we lived in the area.

...

Could be or it may be legitimate. It’s probably a bit of both. The new fee would be $15,000, a drop in the bucket considering a recovered booster is estimated to save $20 million.

SpaceX is also building a launch pad on the coast of Texas.


4 posted on 06/24/2016 8:05:35 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: BenLurkin

Obama’s idea ? They’re making NASA’s Muslim outreach look bad


5 posted on 06/24/2016 8:06:20 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Moonman62

And elon is constructing a battery plant just outside of Reno. He got money everywhere. Building the less expensive Tesla for common folks to the tune of around $60K. Thanks elon.


6 posted on 06/24/2016 8:08:00 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: PrairieDawg; seekthetruth; Wilhelm Tell; BlueYonder; thingumbob; amzgirl; 75thOVI; Ravenstar; ...
Brevard County, Florida ping.

Let me know if you want on or off this low volume ping list.
(not associated with the county government)


7 posted on 06/24/2016 8:39:54 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (JFK Wanted To Send Man To Moon - Obama Wants To Send Man To Ladies Room)
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To: NonValueAdded

Thanks for added information. I heard it on the radio and it sounded just plain excessive...maybe more to the story!


8 posted on 06/24/2016 8:46:40 AM PDT by 3D-JOY
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To: Mr. K

You got it.


9 posted on 06/24/2016 8:48:46 AM PDT by Ray76 (The evil effect of Obergefell is to deprive the people of rule of law & subject us to tyranny!)
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To: BenLurkin

IIRC the port was recently upgraded for Disney and other cruise outfits. I think FEC is also participating in facility upgrades.


10 posted on 06/24/2016 8:50:44 AM PDT by Ray76 (The evil effect of Obergefell is to deprive the people of rule of law & subject us to tyranny!)
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To: 3D-JOY

Translation- These guys are showing up the government so we have to do something to slow them down.


11 posted on 06/24/2016 8:53:04 AM PDT by Boomer One ( ToUsesn)
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To: Boomer One

I think, living in the area and hearing all the port stories, it is just another money grab by the commissioners that I see as out of control. They just dredged the port deeper and made the basin larger for the new YUGE cruise ships to come shortly. Maybe they are covering their own deficiencies???


12 posted on 06/24/2016 9:48:35 AM PDT by 3D-JOY
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To: rktman
And elon is constructing a battery plant just outside of Reno. He got money everywhere.

I just read an article yesterday about Tesla Motors offering to buy SolarCity for about $2.8 billion. Part of the reason is Tesla is making home battery systems to store solar energy from solar panels that SolarCity produces. Elon Musk just happens to be the largest individual shareholder in SolarCity, which saw their shares surge 17 percent on the news. Musk is indeed rolling in money, and has his hands into everything.

13 posted on 06/24/2016 10:58:24 AM PDT by roadcat
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To: BenLurkin; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
Oh looky, it's political corruption time! Didn't stop the bash-musk trolls from squirming right out of the woodwork though. Thanks BenLurkin.

14 posted on 06/24/2016 11:21:27 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
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