SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

EdwardHeisler · 2018-03-19 21:42:41

SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA
By Eric Ralph 
March 19, 2018

SpaceX has been given initial approval by the Port of Los Angeles to acquire and develop a massive vacant lot into a facility capable of manufacturing the first BFR prototypes and refurbishing the company’s reusable Falcon 9 boosters. This approval is without a doubt the biggest step forward yet for the company’s ultimate goal of sending massive spaceships to Mars.

A request summary completed on March 6 details SpaceX’s proposal, laying out a bright future of rocket manufacturing for the abandoned 18-acre lot at Berth 240, one that might soon support “composite curing, cleaning, painting, and assembly [of commercial transportation vessels]” that “would need to be transported by water due to their size.” This description meshes almost perfectly with past discussion of BFR manufacturing plans from SpaceX executives like Elon Musk and Gwynne Shotwell, both of which have in the recent past affirmed the need for any BFR manufacturing facility to be located adjacent to a large body of water due to the difficulty of transporting rocket hardware as large as BFR.

On March 15, around a week after the environmental impact assessment gave a green light for SpaceX’s facility, Port of Los Angeles’ Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the proposal, effectively giving SpaceX permission to begin serious demolition and construction activities at Berth 240, an abandoned lot located on the San Pedro side of the greater Port of Los Angeles, which refers to both Ports of San Pedro and Long Beach. To provide context, SpaceX’s primary manufacturing facilities in Hawthorne, CA occupy 10-15 acres of urban real estate – in other words, even partial development of Berth 240’s 18 acres would mark a huge expansion of the company’s available manufacturing and refurbishment space, an absolute necessity for the construction of a launch vehicle as large as BFR.

The construction of such a facility would make it significantly easier for SpaceX to build its first BFR/BFS prototypes, avoiding the massive disruption and cost that transporting the 9m-diameter vehicle through downtown LA. Rather than dealing with that nightmare, SpaceX would instead be able to simply crane an assembled booster or spaceship onto a barge (perhaps a drone ship?) that would then ship the rocket hardware through the Panama Canal to the company’s facilities in Cape Canaveral, FL or Boca Chica, TX.

While it is likely to take a fair amount of time to prepare the lot for the construction of a facility capable of manufacturing advanced composite rocket components, the wording in the Port documentation also suggests that SpaceX means to transfer its Falcon 9 recovery work to the new berth as soon as it’s available. Indeed, the comparatively massive space would give SpaceX far more room for recovery operations with the drone ship Just Read The Instructions (JRTI), and could potentially become a one-stop-shop for booster recovery and refurbishment. As of now, boosters recovered on the West Coast are transported to the Hawthorne factory for all refurbishment work, operations that themselves already require brief road stoppages to accommodate the sheer size of Falcon 9. As of 2018, SpaceX is planning for BFR to be 50% taller and close to three times as wide as Falcon 9 (350 feet long and 30 feet in diameter).

Although SpaceX is specifically named in the study, the company appears to have created a distinct LLC to lease the lot, referred to as “WW Marine Composites” by the authors. At the point of publishing, WW Marine Composites does at least appear to exist, but that is the sum of all info available on the circa-2016 LLC. This obscure, stealthy LLC appears to continue SpaceX’s habit of purchasing and leasing land through shell corporations, a common behavior of businesses thanks to its tax benefits and protection against liability. Finally, an additional document from December 2017 hints that SpaceX is still working closely with Janicki Industries, a globally-renowned carbon composite structures manufacturer that SpaceX tasked with the creation of the first 12m-diameter composite tank, revealed to the surprise of almost everyone in 2016 and soon after tested to destruction in 2017.

Regardless, it will be exciting to watch SpaceX develop what will likely become its newest property acquisition. BFR is a massive rocket and will require commensurately massive manufacturing hardware, hardware that is likely to be spotted by any number of eagle-eyed SpaceX fans and observers in the LA area. Berth 240 may also uniquely lend itself to some incredible photos of the company’s progress, thanks in part to the fact that it’s all but surrounded by shoreline that is accessible to the public. Teslarati photographer Pauline Acalin visited the site just after receiving insight on the latest development to get a feel for the location.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacexs-first … la-photos/

Oldfart1939 · 2018-03-23 09:56:23

This is actually great evidence that Musk is deadly serious about BFR!

louis · 2018-03-23 16:48:13

Indeed! But it still leaves the mystery of where the first BFR is being built if you believe him when he says it is under construction.

I think it's Texas. Moving it might be difficult but not impossible.

Oldfart1939 wrote:

This is actually great evidence that Musk is deadly serious about BFR!

SpaceNut · 2018-03-23 19:49:16

Prototype parts and pieces count toward the build as the final intergration can take placeonce the site is built for the final testing of the core as thats going to be deafening.....

louis · 2018-03-23 21:06:34

I don't think the LA site would be ready in time for Musk to fulfil his projection of having the BFR flying in the first half of 2019. You either have to think Musk is lying or that the prototype is being built elsewhere than that LA site.

SpaceNut wrote:

Prototype parts and pieces count toward the build as the final intergration can take placeonce the site is built for the final testing of the core as thats going to be deafening.....

Oldfart1939 · 2018-03-23 22:51:57

Louis-

When a construction company gets a really big contract to put up a steel framed metal building, you would be surprised how fast things will take place converting that site into what's needed. The biggest chore will be doing any excavation for in-ground plumbing and other utilities. But I'm betting that in 90 to 150 days, Musk could have the basic structure ready to occupy; that doesn't include installation of in-plant machinery.

Some of the components such as motors, are not going to be made there, as they aren't overly large and are transportable by truck from Hawthorne. Other components, primarily sheet metal parts--who knows? Carbon fiber-polymer fuel and LOX tanks? They already transported that big tank out into the water for pressure testing.

Musk will probably supply a lot of the universal lubricant for industry: money. Money talks and B*llsh#t walks. And nobody walks in LA.

GW Johnson · 2018-03-24 10:28:25

I thought Musk was going to build BFR/BFS components at the new south Texas site, but it looks like he will instead build them in California, not all that far from where he builds Falcon stuff. Looks like they will be barged through the Panama canal to Texas and Florida, or direct to Vandenburg. He could then launch from all three sites, which option is "Musk-like" in its flexibility.

GW

louis · 2018-03-24 12:32:00

It's not just machinery to be installed though is it? - you've got to get the (highly skilled) personnel in place. It seems to me unlikely you could get everything in place so as to be able to produce the first BFR by the first quarter of 2019, to allow a launch in the first half of 2019 if you are dependent on the LA port facility being up and ready.

Oldfart1939 wrote:

Louis-
When a construction company gets a really big contract to put up a steel framed metal building, you would be surprised how fast things will take place converting that site into what's needed. The biggest chore will be doing any excavation for in-ground plumbing and other utilities. But I'm betting that in 90 to 150 days, Musk could have the basic structure ready to occupy; that doesn't include installation of in-plant machinery.
Some of the components such as motors, are not going to be made there, as they aren't overly large and are transportable by truck from Hawthorne. Other components, primarily sheet metal parts--who knows? Carbon fiber-polymer fuel and LOX tanks? They already transported that big tank out into the water for pressure testing.
Musk will probably supply a lot of the universal lubricant for industry: money. Money talks and B*llsh#t walks. And nobody walks in LA.

louis · 2018-04-16 19:21:34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np9Cv0kSr_Q

Interesting but also annoying (thanks to robot voice!).

However if this is genuine it does suggest it is a case of "full speed ahead" on BFR development.

GW Johnson · 2018-04-18 14:55:26

Spacex has plenty of product engineering and manufacturing folks in Hawthorne (an LA suburb). Moving some of them over to the LA basin port is no big deal, other than the ridiculous commuting impasse that is California.

From the LA harbor, it is easy to barge BFR stages to Vandenburg, or through the Panama Canal to Texas, or to Florida via the intracoastal waterway. As I stated before, this flexibility is very Musk-like.

Raptor engines are being tested at McGregor, Texas, now. I doubt any of the stage tankage will be shipped to McGregor, it is simply too large. They'll do the all-up tests at the launch site. There will soon be three to choose from. As I understand it, work is underway at the far South Texas site.

From South Texas, Cuba and the other Caribbean islands make good stage recovery sites, if flyback all the way to South Texas is infeasible. That is unlike both Florida and Vandenburg.

GW

louis · 2018-04-18 16:25:01

But how does Musk hope to have BFR test flights in 2019 if LA Port is the manufacturing site? Surely the prototype must be being built somewhere else, like Texas?

GW Johnson wrote:

Spacex has plenty of product engineering and manufacturing folks in Hawthorne (an LA suburb). Moving some of them over to the LA basin port is no big deal, other than the ridiculous commuting impasse that is California.
From the LA harbor, it is easy to barge BFR stages to Vandenburg, or through the Panama Canal to Texas, or to Florida via the intracoastal waterway. As I stated before, this flexibility is very Musk-like.
Raptor engines are being tested at McGregor, Texas, now. I doubt any of the stage tankage will be shipped to McGregor, it is simply too large. They'll do the all-up tests at the launch site. There will soon be three to choose from. As I understand it, work is underway at the far South Texas site.
From South Texas, Cuba and the other Caribbean islands make good stage recovery sites, if flyback all the way to South Texas is infeasible. That is unlike both Florida and Vandenburg.
GW

GW Johnson · 2018-04-19 11:44:04

Build the airframes at the harbor and barge them to the launch site. Test the engines individually at McGregor, and ship them to the launch site (which is what they are doing now).

Assemble engines to airframe at the launch site. Do the all-up verification test on the pad, then go fly, from the launch site. Fly the second stage craft on short hops by itself first, then add the first stage for much more demanding flights later.

There are two sites to choose from now, and soon three.

Such a plan is Musk-like in its directness wouldn't you say?

GW

Last edited by GW Johnson (2018-04-19 11:44:37)

Oldfart1939 · 2018-04-19 12:17:59

Regards the equipment already seen at LA---I've seen several industrial sites where the extremely large manufacturing machinery is moved to the use point, and the building subsequently constructed around it. This may be what is happening/going to happen withSpaceX and the large mandrels spotted by alert camera-toting newsies? For the past few years there's been speculation that Musk would utilize water borne transportation to move huge components to launch/test facilities.

By the way, the value recently assigned to SpaceX is ~ $28 Billion.

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#1 2018-03-19 21:42:41

SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#2 2018-03-23 09:56:23

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#3 2018-03-23 16:48:13

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#4 2018-03-23 19:49:16

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#5 2018-03-23 21:06:34

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#6 2018-03-23 22:51:57

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#7 2018-03-24 10:28:25

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#8 2018-03-24 12:32:00

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#9 2018-04-16 19:21:34

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

#10 2018-04-18 14:55:26

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#11 2018-04-18 16:25:01

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#12 2018-04-19 11:44:04

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#13 2018-04-19 12:17:59

Re: SpaceX’s first BFR manufacturing facility approved by the Port of LA!

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