Falcon

Facilities

6.1 SPACEX EAST COAST LAUNCH FACILITIES

6.1.1 CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FLORIDA

SpaceX operates a Falcon launch site at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida. SLC-40 was previously used by the US Air Force for Titan III and Titan IV launches. This facility has been extensively modified by SpaceX to accommodate the Falcon family of launch vehicles. The SLC-40 launch pad is located at 28˚ 33.72’ (28.5620°) N latitude, 80˚ 34.630’ (80.5772°) W longitude. Launch azimuths from SLC-40 support low- to mid-inclination LEO, GTO and Earth escape orbits. SpaceX facilities at SLC-40 include a launch vehicle integration hangar, propellant and pressurant storage and supply areas, a launch pad, and lightning towers. A SpaceX administrative facility is located adjacent to the launch complex. SpaceX provides the use of an off-pad PPF as a standard service for CCAFS launch operations. CCAFS processing and launch operations, including payload processing facility services.

Figure 6-1: Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

SpaceX provides the use of an off-pad PPF as a standard service for CCAFS launch operations. CCAFS processing and launch operations, including PPF services, are described in Section 8.

6.1.2 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA

In April 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease with NASA for use of historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), located on Merritt Island off the central Florida coast. NASA constructed LC-39A (Figure 6-2) in the early 1960s to conduct missions under the legendary Apollo program and, later, with the space shuttle. After facility upgrades in 2016, SpaceX completed its first LC-39A launch on February 19, 2017, with the Falcon 9 transport of CRS-10, as part of an ISS commercial resupply mission. SpaceX has continued the pad’s legacy, launching Falcon 9 from LC-39A twelve times in 2017 alone and Falcon Heavy in February 2018 for its demonstration mission.

The LC-39A launch pad is located at 28.6082° N latitude, 80.6041° W longitude. Launch azimuths from LC-39A support low- to mid-inclination LEO, GTO and Earth escape orbits,

Figure 6-2: LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida

LC-39A includes an existing launch pad. The site’s design mirrors the facilities and operations at SpaceX’s other launch pads and leverages lessons learned. Located 8 miles from the main KSC gate, the launch complex at LC-39A (Figure 6-2) is the largest location that SpaceX has activated for launch operations since the company’s inception in 2002.

The LC-39A hangar has been designed to receive, integrate and roll out Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles (Figure 6-2). With 55,000 sq ft of floor space and 34,000 sq ft of high bay, the hangar contains 90-ton, 50-ton and 30-ton bridge cranes as well as integration rails, electrical support equipment and GN2, GHe and other supplies for performing launch vehicle processing and integration with the encapsulated payload.

Based on a survey of the route, the maximum incline that the integrated launch vehicle experiences during transportation is 2.9 degrees and occurs as it is moved up to the pad.

6.1.3 CCAFS & KSC PERSONNEL ACCOMMODATIONS

6.1.3.1 ACCESS AND BADGES

CCAFS is a US Air Force Range with controlled access. SpaceX will facilitate pre-approval, badging and access for customer personnel requiring access to CCAFS. Once badged, customer personnel will have access to the appropriate areas of the launch base. Non-US persons are subject to additional pre-approval and escort requirements, which will be facilitated by SpaceX.

6.1.3.2 TRANSPORTATION, LODGING AND SERVICES

Customers typically fly commercial transport to Orlando International Airport, rent cars at the airport, and find lodging between Titusville and Cocoa Beach for the duration of their stay in Florida. Customer personnel who are US persons may use their own rental cars for on-base transportation. The area offers a full range of services; your mission manager can provide you with additional detailed recommendations. SpaceX does not provide transportation or lodging for customer personnel during CCAFS launch campaigns.

6.1.3.3 AVAILABLE FACILITIES FOR CUSTOMERS

As a standard service, SpaceX provides desk and office space for customer personnel at CCAFS in Hangar AO (Figure 6-3).

Figure 6-3: Hangar AO

Figure 6-4: Layout of customer office space in Hangar AO

These facilities are available from customer arrival through launch + 3 days. Offices are provided with US-standard power (120V, 60 Hz), high-speed Internet service and standard office equipment. The pad customer room is located in a bunker below the launch pad and is used during pad operations.

The SpaceX Launch Control for SpaceX flights is located just outside the south entrance to CCAFS, providing easy access to all customers. These facilities are equipped with fiber-optic connections to the launch site and a connection into the launch site’s main data system, allowing easy data transfers between the control facility, the pad and the range, along with required external users and agencies. A customer room that can accommodate eight people is provided within the facility for customer technical management personnel.

6.2 VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA

SpaceX operates a Falcon launch site at Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California (Figure 6-5). SLC-4E was also previously used by the US Air Force for Titan III and Titan IV launches, and it has been extensively modified by SpaceX to accommodate Falcon launch vehicles. The facilities include the payload processing facility (PPF), vehicle integration hangar, customer office area, pad customer room, launch pad, and launch and landing control. The PPF is attached to the north side of the vehicle integration hangar as shown in Figure 6-5. The two facilities share a common door through which an encapsulated payload will pass for integration to the launch vehicle. The customer office area is within walking distance of the PPF and is available to support customer administrative needs. There are multiple offices and conference rooms available in the building and sections of the building can be closed off as necessary to separate working areas between organizations. The pad customer room is located next to the launch pad and equipped to support customer EGSE racks and work stations during payload processing at the pad. The Launch and Landing Control (Bldg 8505) is located on the North Base and is equipped to support customer electrical ground support equipment racks and workstations for day of launch activities.

Figure 6-5: Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

The SLC-4E launch pad is located at 34˚ 37.92’ (34.6320°) N latitude, 120˚ 36.64’ (120.6107°) W longitude. Launch azimuths from SLC-4E support high-inclination LEO orbits, including polar orbits and SSO. SLC-4E processing and launch operations are described below.

6.2.1 VAFB PERSONNEL ACCOMMODATIONS

6.2.1.1 ACCESS AND BADGES

VAFB is a US Air Force base with controlled access. SpaceX will facilitate pre-approval, badging and access for customer personnel requiring access to VAFB. Once badged, customer personnel will have access to the appropriate areas of the launch base. Non-US persons are subject to additional pre-approval and escort requirements, which will be facilitated by SpaceX.

6.2.1.2 TRANSPORTATION, LODGING AND SERVICES

Customers typically fly commercial transport to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), rent cars at the airport, and find lodging between Lompoc and Santa Maria for the duration of their stay in California. The drive between LAX and VAFB takes approximately 3 hours. Customers occasionally fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) as well; the drive from SBA to VAFB takes about an hour. Customer personnel who are US persons may use their own rental cars for on-base transportation. SpaceX does not provide transportation or lodging for customer personnel during VAFB launch campaigns. The area offers a full range of services; your mission manager can provide you with additional detailed recommendations.

6.2.1.3 AVAILABLE FACILITIES FOR CUSTOMERS

As a standard service, SpaceX provides desk and office space (Figure 6-6) for customer personnel. These facilities are available from customer arrival through launch + 3 days. Offices are provided with US-standard power (120 V, 60 Hz), high-speed Internet service and standard office equipment.

Figure 6-6: Vandenberg customer office space layout

The pad customer room is located in a bunker below the launch pad and is used during pad operations. Figure 6-7 below shows the size and layout of this facility.

Figure 6-7: Pad customer room

The SpaceX Launch Control is located approximately 11 miles north of the pad. These facilities are equipped with fiber- optic connections to the launch site and a connection into the launch site’s main data system, allowing easy data transfers between the control facility, the pad and the range, along with required external users and agencies. A customer room is provided within the facility and can accommodate up to 12 customer technical personnel.

Figure 6-8: Customer control rooms at SpaceX Launch Control