SpaceX continues to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket booster after launch. Now, the private space company is asking for additional landing pads.
SpaceX currently has one landing pad, Launch Zone One, at Cape Canaveral. They’ve successfully landed two boosters back at the site – with plans to reuse the rockets on future launches.
But they need two more pads. That’s because he company’s next rocket, the Falcon Heavy, uses three Falcon 9 boosters, and SpaceX wants to land and reuse those to lower the cost of launches
They’ve asked for regulatory approval to begin the process. That starts with the Air Force, which is collecting public input on the project. From there, the Air Force evaluates what environmental impacts the new pads would have.
“SpaceX expects to fly Falcon Heavy for the first time later this year," says SpaceX's John Taylor. "We are also seeking regulatory approval to build two additional landing pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. We hope to recover all three Falcon Heavy cores, though initially we may attempt drone ship landings.”
The Air Force seeks public input on another private space company facility, Blue Origin’s launch complexes at Cape Canaveral.
