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To: BenLurkin
"Starship TPS is intended to provide a dramatic leap forward by demonstrating operational reuse requiring minimal to no maintenance between flights, " NASA said.

The space agency also offers a possible window for the Starship launch, saying it is "targeting (a ) Starship reentry observation opportunity near March 2022.

Musk's space flight operation has not identified all potential options for future landing sites and "may plan to land the Starship on islands in the Pacific Ocean, " which would be analyzed in future reports if plans develop, according to the environmental assessment.

Ted Ralston, a retired aerospace engineer, said Hawaii would likely be ruled out for a land-based return. Rather, SpaceX may have in mind sparsely populated or uninhabited islands in the Western Pacific with little commercial air traffic, he said.

Eventually, SpaceX wants to launch and land its Super Heavy boosters and Star ships back at Boca Chica - and it is adding steel arms at its 450-foot "Mechazilla " launch tower to "catch " the returning vehicles.


3 posted on 11/09/2021 2:08:52 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

“SpaceX may have in mind sparsely populated or uninhabited islands in the Western Pacific with little commercial air traffic, he said.”

French Frigate Shoals comes to mind. However, it would be pretty bad for the birds that nest there, I suppose. There is even a runway to set down on, or crash on, depending on what they have planned.


5 posted on 11/09/2021 2:25:29 PM PST by Afterguard (Deplorable me! )
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