Featured Image Source: Created by @ErcXspace via Twitter
SpaceX is developing Starship at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, South Texas. SpaceX founder Elon Musk will provide an update about the spacecraft's development progress and share details about the planned debut orbital flight test on Thursday, February 10 at 8:00 p.m. CST [date is subject to change]. While the company prepares for the first spaceflight, it is already moving forward with its plans to build a second Super Heavy-class launch tower in the East Coast. SpaceX posted a new set of job listings this month, seeking to hire engineers to build a Starship orbital launch tower in Florida. “[…] Will have similar, but improved, ground systems & tower to Starbase,” said SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
KSC Starbase 39A.#SpaceX #Starship pic.twitter.com/hx9XiA8BxE
— Erc X (@ErcXspace) January 6, 2022
The company plans to build the second Starship launch site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex-49 in Cape Canaveral, according to the agency. SpaceX officials previously mentioned plans to build a Starship launch tower at historic Launch Complex-39A, the launch site from where NASA Apollo astronauts lifted off atop Saturn V on a journey to the Moon half a century ago. NASA and SpaceX are working to return humans to the lunar surface by 2025. SpaceX is developing a lunar-optimized Starship Human Landing System (HLS) to land astronauts on the moon as part of the Artemis program that aims to build a sustainable presence on our closest celestial neighbor. The Starship launch tower will be built at the empty Launch Complex-49, it is an 175-acre land located north of Launch Pad-39A and Pad-39B at NASA Kennedy Space Center premises, shown in the map below.
Source: NASA
SpaceX seeks to hire Build Engineers for ‘Starship Launch Pads’ in Florida. “Our Build Engineers build unique, large-scale launch infrastructure associated with Cape Starship orbital launch pads. This team is on the front line as we design and build the launch pads for the world’s largest rocket,” the job application states. Some of the tasks they are responsible for are: “actively participate in the design, fabrication and installation of complex infrastructure that help manufacture and launch Starship.”
Engineers are working to develop a fully-reusable spacecraft. The launch tower is designed to stack Starship atop the Super Heavy rocket and catch the vehicles as each return from space after completing a mission. SpaceX also seeks to hire Build Engineers for ‘Integration and Catch Tower’ construction in Florida. “The integration and catch tower will redefine ground support systems for launch vehicles as we know it, with the ultimate goal being to launch, catch, and relaunch orbital boosters in hours or days instead weeks or months,” the application says. “The Build Engineer role covers design for manufacturability concepts through integration and testing of the full tower. You will be highly engaged on the primary and secondary structures of the tower, including designing tooling (assembly aides, welding, part fixturing, etc.) and processes (welding, large part movement, large structure integration) to rapidly build early versions of the tower.”
There is also an open job application for 'Automation & Control Engineers' for Starship Thermal Protection Systems (TPS). “Thermal protection is a key component of building the world’s most advanced re-usable rocket,” says SpaceX. The spacecraft needs to withstand extremely hot temperatures when crossing Earth’s atmosphere at high-speeds. TPS is a vital component of building a safe and fully-reusable spacecraft. You can learn more details about all these job positions and find additional listings at SpaceX’s official website: SpaceX.com/careers
SpaceX is hiring engineers for the Integration & Catch Tower at Cape Canaveral! It's coming!! pic.twitter.com/EqqcDckpfc
— Owen Sparks 🌎 (@OwenSparks_) February 5, 2022
Featured Image Source: Created by @ErcXspace via Twitter
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
