First look at SpaceX's Vandenberg AFB pad

[Dr Mordrid]

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden visited SpaceX's pad at Vandenberg AFB today.

News from the event: Falcon 9 v1.1 maiden flight from Vandenberg is June 18, 2013, and we have pics of the SLC-4E hangar, pad & crawler plus a new graphic of the Falcon Heavy on the pad.

http://lompocrecord.com/mobile-touch-2/?disableTNStatsTracker=1&asset=e8181f8a-74e3-11e2-92ee-001a4bcf887a#e8181f8a-74e3-11e2-92ee-001a4bcf887a

Vandenberg AFB hangar (Falcon 9 v1.1 and Falcon Heavy)


Pad & transporter/gantry images - some serious metal there






Flame trench & part of pad. Note the scale vs the people


CGI of same area - compare to Falcon Heavy graphic below for true scale


The Beast - Falcon Heavy
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[SitFlyer]

When they launch the first heavy, I'm definitely planning to go there and observe whatever I can.

[Dr Mordrid]

Video & stills, please (as if the net will be short of em!)

I'd love to go see that bad boy fly myself.

I hear that their facility at KSC is going to be modded too, most likely with another hangar and FH capable pad & flame trench. The McGregor TX test sites new test stand is coming along too. With it only about 4.5 miles outside of town the natives will have a helluva view. Wonder about windows & curio shelves though.

One thing people are wagging about is that the new McGregor test stands trench seems a bit oversized for FH, hinting at something even larger coming - probably MCT related. Rumors are a booster core 2x the diameter of the 3.66m diameter Falcons, about 7-8 meters, which would indicate a lift of 150-200 metric tons.