SpaceX to Build Port of L.A. Facility for Big Falcon Rocket

Space exploration has been a topic of interest for the past several decades of human history, ever since humans first figured out some of the mysteries of rocket propulsion. From the Space Race to landing on the Moon to the International Space Station, so much effort and many resources have gone into traveling space and learning more about it. Within the past decade or so, the United States government elected to put an end to their space exploration program, citing budget concerns. Fortunately for the industry, a private company called SpaceX stepped in and is now working on the rocket ship that may one day take humans to Mars. According to Samantha Masunaga's L.A. Times article, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously voted this week to allow SpaceX to build a facility at the Port of L.A. where they will be working on their latest BFR rocket-spaceship combination project.

While the project isn't expected to start for at least 2 to 3 years, it is expected to provide many new jobs in the area. The lease will be for 10 years, with options for 20 or 30, at SpaceX's preference, and rent for the 19 acres of land will be over $1 million per year. SpaceX will also be given the ability to get the rental rate lowered by making significant improvements to Terminal Island, where the Port is located, in the first 20 years of operating there.

The BFR, which stands for Big Falcon Rocket, is expected to be the largest and most advanced rocket of the generation. At 340 feet tall and 35 feet in diameter, SpaceX plans to use the rocket to replace their current go-to, the Falcon 9, for the eventual colonization of Mars as well as for trips to the Moon. The first phase of construction has been planned, involving an 80,000 square foot "hangar-like" building. In the second phase, the facility will be expanded to 200,000 square feet. And, all the while, SpaceX's 40-person design and production team will be working on plans for the actual rocket itself.

The government's decision to grant SpaceX access to the land on Terminal Island seems to fit the right balance. Even though it was great for national pride, the space program had to be shut down because it simply wasn't affordable anymore. By facilitating the efforts of a private company to explore outer space, the government is simultaneously remaining involved in the exploratory effort, enabling the clean-up and improvement of Terminal Island, and is bringing in some revenue, rather than taking a deficit in regards to outer space. Perhaps there are other industries that would be better served by a partnership between the government and private industries.

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Orbital ATK's Successful Rocket Launch Enables it to Supply the ISS Again

The International Space Station (ISS) currently houses three astronauts: one each from Russia, Japan, and the United States. Those astronauts live and do research in the floating structure 250 miles above the Earth, and as such, need a steady supply of food and equipment to stay alive. Two years ago, on October 28, 2014, an unmanned Antares rocket from a company called Orbital ATK exploded on takeoff, destroying the rocket, launch pad, and the entire shipment of supplies. Fortunately, Orbital ATK seems to be making a return to the market. Just this week, as detailed in an article by the Associated Press of the L.A. Times, a newly rebuilt Antares rocket took flight, carrying over 5,000 pounds of food and other supplies for the astronauts on the ISS.

The rocket's flight was in view for watchers throughout the East Coast, as far north as Boston and as far south as Charleston.  Besides the fact that the renovations and repairs cost over $15 million, the engineers of Orbital ATK were very relieved when the rocket launch was successful. because it meant that they could get back into the business of supplying the ISS. Over the past two years, since Orbital ATK was out of commission, NASA's sole source of supplies was SpaceX. When the American space program first ended in 2011, government-owned shuttles were forced into retirement, which gave SpaceX and Orbital ATK room to take over.

Orbital ATK was doubtful about its ability to launch over the past few weeks, due mainly to the hurricane weather in the region, but the success of their rocket has brought the company back on track. Analysts expect that the next space-related venture to be commercialized will be flights to transport crew members of the ISS. NASA also hopes to get astronauts to Mars by the 2030s, which would mean the next goal for companies like SpaceX would be commercialized transport to Mars and other planets in the future. Orbital ATK's newly regained ability to send rockets into space has granted the company a spot in the competition for control of a future commercialized form of interplanetary travel.

The payload of supplies released by the Antares rocket, stored in a Cygnus capsule, is currently orbiting the Earth, waiting a few days before it will break free of the orbit and make it all the way to the space station. The reason for the delay is that a new crew of three astronauts is set to launch from Kazakhstan this week, and NASA wants to give them a little bit of time to get settled on the ISS before they have to immediately begin unpacking supplies and beginning the experiments. Especially because their last rocket exploded before it ever left the ground, many people were wary that a similar outcome could be expected this time. The success of Orbital ATK's rocket speaks volumes for their position in the future market of commercialized space transportation.

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