From Sea to Space: Maritime Tech supports Starship Missions
Maps (maybe some compasses too) will be also be requested in space so...
(Webpage first published on 2024-10-27)
As author of “Compass and a Map – A Guide for the International Business Development Manager ”, Futureoftheocean requested my insights on the maritime industry's contribution to the success of SpaceX's initiatives, the future maritime industry support, and the implications of the recent successful launch and soft landing of the Starship booster on October 13 at Boca Chica, Texas.
SpaceX makes history: Historical Booster Landing at Launch Site – October 13, 2024
I appreciate this opportunity to share my views and update those who have not followed the collaborative efforts between SpaceX and the offshore and shipyard industry sectors of the maritime industry, in which I have been involved for the past 45 years. This partnership has been instrumental to the success of the SpaceX Starship program and further demonstrates the maritime industry's versatility.
The super heavy Starship booster, standing at an impressive 233 feet tall, returned to its launch site and was captured mid-air by two enormous robotic arms: the feat affectionately nicknamed the 'Mechanzilla Catch' is considered one of humanity's most outstanding space achievements.
This success best ensures future cost-effective, back-to-back short-turnaround Starship missions. SpaceX's next hurdle is for the returned booster to be repaired and made ready for the next launch, in place on the launchpad. Turnaround times will be drastically reduced, reducing mission costs exponentially.
Operation in motion
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Maritime Industry Support to SpaceX Starship Program
The maritime industry has contributed to SpaceX Starship program success by providing large offshore deck barges, shipyard conversions of the barges into floating offshore platforms for booster soft landings, and offshore towing and logistics services provided by the tugboat industry. SpaceX named the converted barges 'drone ships', a new vessel category for US Coast Guard certification purposes.
SpaceX has completed approximately 200 successful soft landings of Falcon boosters on three giant offshore barges converted to drone ship landing platforms. This milestone was reached seven years after the first successful drone ship landing on April 8, 2016, during the CRS-8 mission.
Three 300-foot (300'x100'x20') ABS offshore sister deck barges owned by Marmac (McDonough Marine Services), New Orleans, were converted to drone ships at Louisiana Shipyards: LAD Shipyard and Bollinger Shipyard. The drone ships are uncrewed, self-propelled, and capable of performing full remote operations from the vessels' port to the landing area and returning to the port with the recovered Starship booster. Even though the drone ships are self-propelled, tugs are generally used to tow and position the landing platform. SpaceX has christened these three drone ships with interesting names: Just Read the Instructions (see picture), I Still Love You and the latest addition, A Shortfall of Gravitas.
The combined technical and operational capabilities of the shipyard industry, barge industry, and offshore tugboat operators have allowed SpaceX to focus on space flight operations, with the marine industry taking responsibility for vessel construction and offshore operations.
Will SpaceX's Future Missions Focus on Land - or Offshore-Based Starship Launches and Recoveries?
Information currently available to the public indicates that SpaceX is evaluating the pros and cons of land-based versus offshore launch and recovery options for future missions. The immediate focus appears to remain on land-based launches from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. This said, offshore operations are appealing to minimize regulatory constraints, environmental scrutiny, and for safety considerations. Boca Chica residents complain of noise and vibrations that have caused disturbances. Offshore launch operations are remote and unaffected by these restraints, and launches near the equator provide more fuel-efficient orbits.
SpaceX's plan to convert two semi-submersible offshore drilling rigs into floating platforms for capsule launch and soft landing return was canceled. The conversion works were initiated at a shipyard in Mississippi. The proposed scope of work involved removing the drilling equipment and installing a launch tower and booster landing equipment on the drilling rig's deck. The best information publically available for future missions is that SpaceX will pursue a hybrid approach, combining land-based and offshore operations to maximize flexibility and launch capacity. SpaceX considers offshore platforms, such as drone ships and converted semi-drilling rigs, essential to its long-term mission launch and recovery infrastructure strategy. The exact form of the future offshore platform will evolve as SpaceX better understands its specific needs for supporting a projected extremely high launch cadence to include multiple - high-frequency launches.
The early days of space capsules by the maritime industry
These are personal experiences of the early recovery of space capsules by the maritime industry... I believe these first-hand memoirs are now a true part of maritime-space history.
The marine industry has supported capsule recovery operations for the space industry for many years. In the mid-1980's, my employer for over 20 years, SMIT International (Rotterdam, The Netherlands), contracted with the Guiana Space Center to recover spacecraft components offshore French Guiana. As the photos here indicate, the converted barge recovery vessels were designed principally to provide a towing connection for the fore section of the recovered booster or capsule.
In 2006, my SMIT Houston team was invited by a company called SPACEHAB to propose options for managing offshore marine recovery operations of the company's space capsules for their Phase 1 "cargo" transport and Phase "2" crewmember transport program for NASA. SMIT's scope of responsibilities proposed to SPACEHAB included providing materials, equipment, tugboats, and all resources necessary to safely lift SPACEHAB capsules from the water onboard a vessel, and transport the capsule back to a convenient port near Cape Kennedy (today Cape Canaveral).
Recovering these relatively small capsules weighing 19 mt and a length of 13 m. was certainly not as complex as recovering a Starship booster of 71 m in length and weighing 275 mt or the Starship spacecraft capsule length of 50 meters weighing 120 mt. Nevertheless, the marine industry provided resources to support the space industry as required.
The above projects were a natural fit for SMIT, a leading global salvage company known for extraordinarily challenging and high-profile salvages and vessel recoveries, including the Russian submarine Kursk (2000) and the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru (2001).
By 2006, SPACEHAB had provided cargo carrier modules to NASA for 15 missions of the Space Shuttle Program. SPACEHAB explained that by 2010, the Space Shuttle Program would be phased out, transporting supplies and crew between Earth and the International Space Station would be contracted to private companies. This is when SpaceX, Boeing, and Blue Origin entered the picture, and the maritime industry continued its support of these companies.
... maritime skills and technology transferability to the space industry.
SMIT's involvement in recovering the smaller capsules and boosters was not as technically challenging as the methods employed by SpaceX today. Still, it demonstrated maritime skills and technology transferability to the space industry.
SpaceX Philosophy that Drives Its Success
SpaceX's innovative approach to rocket development has been a critical factor in its remarkable success. The company embraces a philosophy that views failures as valuable learning opportunities rather than setbacks to be avoided at all costs. This mindset allows SpaceX to quickly update its technology and procedures through trial and error.
SpaceX gathers crucial data that accelerates its development cycle by launching early and often, even with the expectation of potential failures. This strategy contrasts the more cautious and time-consuming approaches typically employed by government agencies and large aerospace corporations. The maritime industry is most fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such an innovative company as SpaceX.
Final Thoughts and Comments
the maritime industry stands ready to support the future maritime needs of space industry
I watched live the October 13 soft landing of the SpaceX Starship booster while in Colombia. Seeing this achievement from a remote location added drama, especially when it was happening in my home state of Texas. The giant booster's perfect "chopstick -mid-air catch" made chill bumps run up my arms. It was like a scene from a science fiction movie, and it made me very proud to be a part of the maritime industry that has supported the SpaceX Starship program.
SpaceX is actively assessing its maritime infrastructure requirements to support its ambitious space exploration and satellite deployment goals. The company is carefully weighing the pros and cons of sea-based versus land-based operations for launch and recovery activities. SpaceX has already established a significant maritime presence to support its Falcon 9 and Starship programs, and the maritime industry stands ready to support the future maritime needs of space industry.
Note: I highly suggest reading Walter Isaacson's book Elon Musk.
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About Mr. Mark Lamb
Mr. Lamb, CPA (Ret), is the author of "Compass and a Map - A Guide for the International Business Development Manager." He began his career at Ernst and Young (EY) in Houston, Texas, as a Certified Public Accountant, primarily serving clients in the maritime and petroleum industries. This experience paved the way for a 40-year career in the maritime industry, where he specialized in international business development for leading offshore and inland companies.
For more information about Mr. Lamb, his services, and his book, please visit: