U.S. Space Force: BOOST – Booster Operations and Optimal Siting Tool for Spaceport Landing Pads

Discipline: IEMS

Advisor: Luis Rabelo

Launching and landing reusable rocket boosters is expensive, complex, and not yet optimized for frequent flights. Current research doesn’t fully explain what makes a landing site safe, cost-effective, and fast to reset. Our project tackles this problem by studying how to design and operate booster landing pads so rockets can be turned around quickly and reliably. The project looks at existing rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship, focusing on both ground pad and drone ship landings. We are identifying the most important factors that affect landing pad performance, including cost, location, infrastructure, weather, safety, and regulations. Using decision-making tools and computer simulations, we will test different scenarios to see which pad designs and operating practices work best. This work is needed by space agencies, commercial launch providers, and defense organizations who all want faster, safer, and more affordable access to space. Our approach is different because it combines real-world data with structured decision methods and digital simulations, giving a clearer picture than traditional case-by-case studies. Applications include future spaceport development, higher launch cadence operations, and improved reuse of boosters—helping make spaceflight more sustainable and cost-efficient.

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