The Most Important Spaceport In The World – SpaceX’s Starbase
Recently named Starbase, this spaceport in Boca Chica Texas I would consider to be the most important one in the world. This spaceport is being created for the launch and manufacturing of SpaceX’s Starship. Starship is the most powerful rocket in the world and is currently being tested at Starbase. SpaceX’s goals and fast progress combined with the impact this spaceport will have on the future is why it’s the most important one in the world.
What Is Starbase
Starbase is a spaceport currently under construction in Boca Chica Texas. Starbase is being built with the goal of providing a launch facility for SpaceX rockets mainly Starship. It’s also currently responsible for the construction of each Starship prototype. Starbase construction began in late 2018 and since then SpaceX has made massive strides. They have continued to work on the site 24/7 to develop their rocket and prepare the launch site. This is all for the main goal of putting humans on Mars.
What Are They Making There?
SpaceX is developing three main things at Starbase. One is their newest rocket Starship and the others are a launch site capable of helping send Starship into space and the Starship production site. Starship is the most powerful rocket in the world and is also fully reusable. If successfully completed, Starship will completely change the space industry and possibly land the first humans on Mars. If you want to learn more about how special Starship is check out another one of my articles where I go more in-depth here.
1. Starship
Starship has been under an intense testing campaign since the first launch of Starhopper in July of 2019. Since then, they have performed many cryo-tests, static fires, hops, and launch attempts. Through this process, there have been a lot of successful tests and plenty of explosions. With that, they have gained valuable information and are learning exactly what they need to succeed.
2. Launch Site
The other thing SpaceX is making here is the actual launch site. With Starship standing 120m tall and using over 30 engines on the booster alone this is no easy task. Combine that with the goal of Starship being fully reusable and it becomes quite a challenge. One example of this is the launch tower. Not only does it have to be massive and extraordinarily strong but also it must catch the booster called Super Heavy out of the air.
Once caught the launch tower catch arms need to move it carefully onto the launch mount where it can be refueled. Something like this has never been done before and creates a complex engineering problem. SpaceX is trying to do the impossible in the creation of Starship and Starbase.
3. Production Site
The last main complex being built here is the Starship production site. This production site consists of a lot of parts including multiple production tents, high bays, and massive equipment. Right now, there is a mid-bay, a high-bay, and under construction is a super high-bay. These are needed to stack the massive booster and upper stage. The booster by itself stands 70m tall and needs a very large building to put it together and house it.
They are creating an even bigger high bay to help work on multiple boosters at once as they ramp up their production. The production tents are mostly responsible for creating and welding barrel sections. The nosecones for Starship are also produced inside the tents along with other general Starship parts.
SpaceX Is Not Hiding Anything
One aspect of SpaceX that is so refreshing and creates such a big audience is they are not hiding anything. Since they started construction and testing there have been cameras close up 24/7. This constant media coverage thanks to groups like NASASpaceFlight, South Padre, and many others has allowed any space fan to keep up to date with what they are doing. This means people are not only watching the construction and production but also the test flights, success, and failures. SpaceX is not afraid of failure and that is part of the reason they have made so much progress in such a short amount of time. Combine this with Elon consistently answering questions on Twitter and providing details and you have a company that is exciting to interact with and watch grow.
Their Progress So Far
The amount of progress SpaceX has made in a short amount of time is stunning. At first, SpaceX tested Starhopper with their raptor engine. They then began testing Starship with SN5 (Serial Number 5) with the first 150m hop test. Once they successfully completed the hop test, they built the Starship up and added its flaps. They then began testing flights to 15km. After a few failures, they were able to safely land SN15 after a flight to 10km.
Currently, they just stacked a full starship with Booster 4 on the bottom and SN20 on the top. With a planned orbital flight just around the corner, it is amazing to think they started just a few years ago. The rocket itself is not the only thing that has made unbelievable progress. Just as impressive is the launch site. SpaceX has constructed a launch tower and launch mount preparing for the upcoming launch. With that, they have also almost finished a massive tank farm capable of fueling Starship. SpaceX still has so much to do if they want to put humans on Mars, but they are going at an incredible pace.
What Does This Mean For The Future?
Starbase is going to create and launch the rockets of the future. Once Starbase is completed and ready SpaceX will continue to ramp up production and create even more Starships. They will also increase the number of launches until they become a normal event. This spaceport is likely going to be responsible for incredible things like putting the first humans on Mars. On top of that, it will also put tens of thousands of Starlink and other commercial satellites into orbit. It’s even likely to send a lunar lander to the Moon with NASA astronauts.
Depending on Starships success it could completely change the space industry. If SpaceX demonstrates that it is not only possible but viable to create a fully reusable rocket with a lot of power, it will make every company rethink its plans. Fully reusable rockets are the future of space exploration because of their costs. No other space agency or company will be able to compete with how cheap SpaceX’s launch costs will be. This will eventually force the hand of everyone else in the space industry to do the same.
Conclusion
If you haven’t been actively watching the progress of SpaceX and specifically Starship I highly recommend you start. They are making so much progress every day, it is hard to keep up with. Everything they are doing right now will create a lasting impact on the future. With each new test, they accomplish something never done before. The production at Starbase and the goals of SpaceX make it the most important spaceport in the world. SpaceX’s goals and fast progress combined with the impact this spaceport will have on the future is why it’s the most important one in the world.
