From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

rCLSpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data center launch timelinerCY

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/article/spacex-unveils-starbase-launch-site-in-louisiana-moves-up-orbital-data-center-launch-timeline-142539276.html

rCLLouisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said SpaceX will invest $100 billion to
build the facility, with construction starting in 2027 and the first
Starship launches targeted for 2029. Musk added that Starbase will rCLultimately have over a dozen launch towers, enabling more than 30
Starship flights per day.rCYrCY

https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/news/spacex-launches-new-era-of-commercial-spaceflight-with-100-billion-louisiana-campus

This is getting real, very real. That is a very serious goal.

I am still waiting on the daily orbital flight announcements, 30 minutes
from Houston to Tokyo. Free barf bags included for the 15 minutes of
free fall.

Lynn

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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

On 8/25/2026 4:44 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

rCLSpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data center launch timelinerCY

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/article/spacex-unveils- starbase-launch-site-in-louisiana-moves-up-orbital-data-center-launch- timeline-142539276.html

rCLLouisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said SpaceX will invest $100 billion to
build the facility, with construction starting in 2027 and the first Starship launches targeted for 2029. Musk added that Starbase will rCLultimately have over a dozen launch towers, enabling more than 30 Starship flights per day.rCYrCY

https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/news/spacex-launches-new-era-of- commercial-spaceflight-with-100-billion-louisiana-campus

This is getting real, very real.-a That is a very serious goal.

I am still waiting on the daily orbital flight announcements, 30 minutes from Houston to Tokyo.-a Free barf bags included for the 15 minutes of
free fall.

Lynn

"Perhaps someday, but even when it becomes possible to reliably land a Starship on minimally-improved terrain, the problem will always be how
to get it BACK. It will never be able to lift off without a launch tower
and a Super Heavy booster. And a million pounds of propellant. ItrCOs too heavy to be transported by air, and too big for rail. A dirigible,
perhaps, or an airship?"

rCLThe vehiclerCOs tanks hold 1,500 t (3,300,000 lb) of propellant,[22] consisting of 1,170 t (2,580,000 lb) of liquid oxygen and 330 t (730,000
lb) of liquid methane.[d]rCY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Starship

I had not realized that there was that much fuel in the booster alone.
At $2/gal of LNG and 6 lbs/gal, that is $244,000 for the LNG alone. I
am not sure of the cost for LOx but I guess $1/gal might cover it.

So, $1 million per flight for the fuel. That is going to make the daily
30 minute sub orbital from Houston to Tokyo and back fairly expensive at $5,000 per passenger (200 passengers) each way for the fuel alone.

Lynn

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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

On 8/25/2026 4:44 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

rCLSpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data center launch timelinerCY

Interesting. Nice place for polar launches, but unworkable for equatorial. Launch into geostationary would have you flying right over New Orleans and
then St. Augustine which is likely not so safe, So I am guessing that
they have a very specific application in mind for this. I am skeptical of orbital data centers.

Looks like their launch site IS right near the Tabasco company though!
Likely make for a better cafeteria than Kennedy...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

On 2026-08-25, Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

rCLLouisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said SpaceX will invest $100 billion to
build the facility, with construction starting in 2027 and the first

There's got to be a more efficient way to create rocket fuel than
making it from dollar bills.

Seriously, is there some rough breakdown on what they are going to
spend that sum? We're talking about an amount of money here that's
the size of a nation's state budget.
--
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@mips.inka.de
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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

On 8/26/2026 8:32 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:

On 8/25/2026 4:44 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

rCLSpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data >> center launch timelinerCY

Interesting. Nice place for polar launches, but unworkable for equatorial. Launch into geostationary would have you flying right over New Orleans and then St. Augustine which is likely not so safe, So I am guessing that
they have a very specific application in mind for this. I am skeptical of orbital data centers.

The location is good for polar launches to the south, certainly, but
don't count it out for other orbits.

Angling just a bit south avoids heavily populated areas until Florida,
passing over which may be acceptable if Starship obtains reliability
similar to Falcon 9 (which it has to do if its man-rated).

Flights from Boca Chica that blew up have rained debris in the
Bahamas, so yes, until its more reliable, its a concern.

pt
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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

On 8/26/2026 7:32 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:

On 8/25/2026 4:44 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

rCLSpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data >> center launch timelinerCY

Interesting. Nice place for polar launches, but unworkable for equatorial. Launch into geostationary would have you flying right over New Orleans and then St. Augustine which is likely not so safe, So I am guessing that
they have a very specific application in mind for this. I am skeptical of orbital data centers.

Looks like their launch site IS right near the Tabasco company though!
Likely make for a better cafeteria than Kennedy...
--scott

I don't use Tabasco, I use Louisiana Hot Sauce.
https://louisianahotsauce.com/

Lynn

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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

Lynn McGuire wrote:

On 8/26/2026 7:32 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:

On 8/25/2026 4:44 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

rCLSpaceX unveils Starbase launch site in Louisiana, moves up orbital data >>> center launch timelinerCY

Interesting.-a Nice place for polar launches, but unworkable for
equatorial.
Launch into geostationary would have you flying right over New Orleans
and
then St. Augustine which is likely not so safe,-a So I am guessing that
they have a very specific application in mind for this.-a I am
skeptical of
orbital data centers.

Looks like their launch site IS right near the Tabasco company though!
Likely make for a better cafeteria than Kennedy...
--scott

I don't use Tabasco, I use Louisiana Hot Sauce.
-a-a https://louisianahotsauce.com/

Lynn

Tabasco can be a bit too acid. One of the cooks at Duddley's Draw in
College station made his own hot sauces. I was not expecting much from
his Tabasco, but it was excellent. Plenty of pepper flavour, not too acid.

I liked the Louisiana style as well. Trappy's red devil was in
inexpensive favourite. I looked into setting up an import deal here,
but we have plenty of hot sauces and the stores were not interested.

When I was a kid Tabasco was literally the only hot sauce on offer
hereabouts. And only people who had served in the Middle east or India
ever used it. One gets a taste for these things out there.

William Hyde
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From Newsgroup: alt.fan.heinlein

Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

On 8/26/2026 7:32 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:

Looks like their launch site IS right near the Tabasco company though!
Likely make for a better cafeteria than Kennedy...

I don't use Tabasco, I use Louisiana Hot Sauce.
https://louisianahotsauce.com/

7. Match up the sauce with where it is made:

A. Lousiana Hot Sauce 1. California
B. Texas Pete 2. Louisiana
C. Saigon Hot Sauce 3. South Carolina
D. St. Augustine Hot Sauce 4. Virginia

--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
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