Interesting developments continue in the Boca Chica area (Texas). SpaceX in fact it may have purchased over the past two months oil platforms from a bankrupt company for the construction of launch platforms for the launch of Starship (in Super Heavy and Starship configuration).

Isn’t it so strange that SpaceX made this move (not yet officially confirmed). In June 2020 the same Elon Musk had written on Twitter about the idea of ​​building platforms for launching his rockets, moreover, in the old renders dating back to about two years ago, spaceports located on floating platforms.

From oil to space thanks to SpaceX

As written above, the official status is still missing but there are several clues collected by the people who are telling the company of Elon Musk in Texas. For example, the two platforms have codenames of Deimos and Phobos who are “strangely” also the two natural satellites of Mars.

One of the two oil platforms called Deimos (photo by Jack Beyer)

Sure, finding oil rigs in the Texas areas isn’t actually that strange, but that the acquisition is made by Lone Star Mineral Development, owned by Bret Johnsen who in turn is CFO and Chairman of the strategic acquisitions group in SpaceX is definitely interesting.

Currently I work on Super Heavy are still in an early stage although we should see the first test pitch (jump) by the end of 2021. In the pad area, the launching support base similar, but not the same as that which can be seen at the foot of Starship, is rising.

One of the two platforms taken from the sea in the Boca Chica area (photo by SPadre)

The oil platforms currently still seem almost intact even if the works could proceed at a rapid pace, based on what the plans for Elon Musk . It will probably take months before we see a substantial transformation and in the meantime there will be room for testing of Starship with various jumps to ever greater heights.

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