Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast. This is a show where we discuss the critical crossroads that shape SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink. I'm your host, Will Walden. SpaceX is preparing to launch its powerful Starship rockets from multiple sites in Florida, with the Federal Aviation Administration, or the FAA initiating a new environmental review for Spacex's operations and NASA's Kennedy Space Center at KSC.
This review, announced on May 10th, will evaluate Spacex's plans for launching Starships from Lodge Complex 39 A now simultaneously, the US Space Force is conducting a similar Environmental Impact statement, or EIS, for Spacex's proposal to use Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral. Space Forestation SLC 37 recently became available after
ULA last Delta rocket mission. These environmental reviews are crucial for Spacex's goal to have operational Starship launch sites in Florida by the end of 2025. Sometimes these reviews take a couple of years and the FA as decision on Spacex's proposals will follow these environmental reviews. Subsequently, the FAA will conduct a separate licensing process similar to how it licensed the 1st 3 Starship launches from South Texas.
This process is essential for ensuring public safety and compliance with environmental laws. SpaceX has significant contracts with NASA worth over $4 billion to develop a version of Starship capable of landing astronauts on the moon. And for this mission, SpaceX plans to use a series of Starship tanker flights to refuel a lunar Lander in low Earth orbit, necessitating multiple launches from at least two pads, potentially alternating between Texas and Florida.
And in order for all of this to work, NASA is working with SpaceX to make sure that the timeline, the EIS timeline, and NASA's all work in parallel as much as they can. SpaceX aims to perform a dress rehearsal for the Starship lunar Lander in about late 2025. This will involve refueling missions in uncrewed lunar landing and a subsequent takeoff from the moon. The first human flight in the Artemis mission using Starship is slated for around 2029.
Now Artemis 3, and despite the environmental review process, SpaceX faces numerous technical challenge in orbit. Refueling is one of them, and a habitable crew cabin for astronauts as well. These tasks are complex and time consuming, could take years, but they're essential for the success of the Artemis program. In addition to these technical hurdles, SpaceX must construct new Starship pads.
While some infrastructure exists on LC39A, critical components like propellant storage and fueling systems are not quite in place yet. This construction must proceed within the scope of the 2019 environmental assessment until further approval. Now, the Artemis program involves more than just SpaceX. Axiom Space is developing a new space suit for astronauts and NASA Space Launch System. The SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft are essential for transporting astronauts to the Moon.
These elements must be ready to ensure a timely lunar landing mission. Now at Launch Complex 39, A SpaceX had already initiated the construction of a Starship launch tower, which is a structure that stands over 450 feet tall. However, this is just the beginning. For the launch site to be fully operational, significant additional infrastructure is
required. This includes comprehensive propellant storage systems that can house the vast quantities of cryogenic fuels needed for Starship launches. The storage systems must be capable of handling the specific requirements of methane and liquid oxygen, the fuels used by starship's Raptor engines. Now Furthermore, fueling infrastructure at LC39A is crucial for efficient and safe
launch operations. This involves constructing pipelines, pumps, and safety systems to manage the highly volatile fuels, and the current state of the site lacks these integral systems, which are necessary for transferring the fuels from storage tanks to the rocket. And without this infrastructure, SpaceX cannot proceed with the frequent and reliable launch schedule innovations for Starship missions, both for NASA's Artemis program and other commercial endeavors in the future.
Now the ongoing construction work at LC39A must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the 2019 Environmental Assessment. Any significant changes or additions to the original plans require further environmental review and approval from NASA and the FAA, and this regulatory framework ensures that the development does not adversely affect the surrounding environment and it complies with federal laws.
Now NASA has emphasized the SpaceX, as a tenant of this LC 39 area, must receive prior approval for any construction related to starships launch and landing facilities. This is rigorous oversight involved in developing such a significant launch site for such a massive rocket. But beyond the infrastructure, SpaceX is also considering implementing a water deluge system at LC39A. The system is designed to mitigate the extreme acoustic and thermal forces generated during a rocket launch by
flooding the pad with water. Such system is vital for protecting the launchpad structures and minimizing damage from the inverse vibrations and heat. This addition, derived from lessons learned during test flights in Texas, demonstrates that SpaceX is approached is refining the launch infrastructure.
Now, however, incorporating the system will also require careful planning and possibly further environmental assessments to ensure it meets regulatory standards and effectively supports the high launch frequency the SpaceX aims for. The FAA's Commercial Space Office is truly underfunded, impacting the speed of the review process in Florida. SpaceX has advocated for increasing funding to expedite the licensing process, which is critical for the timely launch
of Starship missions. Now, the fact that it takes years for this to happen is not a good thing, and in a scenario where SpaceX is ready for lunar missions Bolex FAE approval for Florida launches, they may just launch these from Texas. However, the preferred plan remains to utilize both Texas and Florida launch sites. SpaceX is 20 year lease for LC39A, which is signed in 2014, has already seen 83 missions launched from the pad with Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
rockets. Previous environmental assessments from 2019 must be updated to reflect Spacex's current launch plans, which now project up to 44 Starship flights per year. The proposed Super Heavy booster will also feature more engines than initially planned, requiring revised environmental evaluations. Now SpaceX is iterative development model for Starship and involves continuous testing and improvement.
Its approach necessitates significant infrastructure at its primary development site, which is in Starbase, Texas. SpaceX is expanding its facility there to support higher production and also higher launch rates. Now Kathy leaders said that they have 3000 employees working at Starbase now. It's intended to be a permanent site for Starship production and testing, with additional launchpads and assembly buildings under construction
right now. And while Starbase is the primary development site, SpaceX plans to operate launchpads in Florida to meet its mission demands. This includes ongoing constructions and new facilities AT39A, and also SLC 37 and SLC 50. To support the high launch frequency needed for Starship missions to lower Earth orbit, to the Moon and to Mars, SpaceX is shifting plans for Starship in Florida reflect the company's
adaptive approach. Initial plans to use the mobile offshore platforms for launches have been set aside. They sold those, and instead SpaceX is focusing on fixed launchpads and established space ports like Cape Canaveral. The development of Starship infrastructure in Florida will enable SpaceX to achieve the launch cadence required for both NASA's Artemis missions and commercial ventures like
Starlink satellite deployments. Further expansions may include a rocket factory at Florida's Space Coast to support these operations. Ultimately, the success of Spacex's plans hinges on timely regulatory approvals, technological advancements in the seamless integration of various mission elements, all of which are essential for the future of human space exploration. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your support.
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