<P> SpaceX originally planned to upgrade the Omelek launch site for use by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, but later cancelled their plans to do so, and have since disassembled the entire installation . In December 2010, the SpaceX launch manifest listed Omelek (Kwajalein) as a potential site for several Falcon 9 launches, the first planned for as early as 2012 . The "Falcon 9 Overview" document also offered Kwajalein as a launch option in 2010 . Since then, the FAA Environmental Impact Report of May 2014 lists this site as non-operational and returned to its original state, to no longer be used, "Five Falcon 1 launches occurred at Omelek Island, Kwajalein Atoll . After these launches of the Falcon 1, the site was no longer needed and SpaceX closed the site and returned the property to pre-launch conditions". All Falcon 1 launches took place at this location, five launches from 2006 to 2009 . SpaceX abandoned Omelek when Falcon 1 was retired, due to the expense of logistics . </P> <P> The super-heavy - lift launch vehicle under development for the SpaceX Mars transportation infrastructure--currently known by its code name BFR, and formerly known as the ITS launch vehicle and before that, the Mars Colonial Transporter--was initially deemed too large to launch from any existing SpaceX facility . In 2014, SpaceX indicated that the historic Florida launchpad LC - 39A would not be large enough, and they planned to build a new site to accommodate the 10 - meter - diameter (33 ft) rocket . The BFR is projected to be powered by thirty - one (31) Raptor liquid oxygen / liquid methane engines producing approximately 52.7 MN (11.8 × 10 ^ lbf) of thrust at liftoff . </P> <P> However, in his September 2016 presentation, Elon Musk stated that the large launch vehicle would indeed be launched from LC - 39A, like the Apollo Moon missions . </P> <P> SpaceX has two rocket test facilities for vertical takeoff, vertical landing rockets: the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility in McGregor, Texas and a leased test facility at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico . All SpaceX rocket engines are tested on rocket test stands, and low - altitude VTVL flight testing of the Falcon 9 Grasshopper v1. 0 test vehicle are done at McGregor . High - altitude, high - velocity flight testing of Grasshopper v1. 1 were planned to be done at Spaceport America . In addition to atmospheric flight testing, and rocket engine testing, the McGregor facility is also used for post-flight disassembly and defueling of the Dragon spacecraft following orbital missions . </P>

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