Starship Barge identified ahead of Starbase to KSC transports
NASASpaceFlight.com -••science
Key Points:
- SpaceX successfully conducted a trial run using the modified Marmac 31 barge to transport full Starship vehicles horizontally from its Texas Starbase to Florida’s Space Coast, confirming plans for maritime transit logistics.
- The Marmac 31 barge, outfitted with reinforced "skirts" to secure the large cylindrical Starship components, marks the first dedicated test for transporting entire vehicles, supporting SpaceX’s strategy to ship boosters and upper stages by sea.
- SpaceX plans to initially transport single Starship boosters or ships per trip, with intentions to scale up to multiple vehicles per transit, facilitating frequent launches from both Texas and Florida launch sites.
- This maritime transport approach follows historical precedents in space logistics and is critical for establishing a reliable supply chain
