SpaceX "Mr Stevens" San Pedro, CA - 18 JUL 2018

On January 19, 2017, I wrote about SpaceX's Falcon 9; now we have "Mr Steven" docked on Terminal Island. Yes, Mr Steven is a strange name for a recovery vessel which will be used to catch the cast-off rocket fairings.

In April, the Port approved a 30 year lease on Terminal Island for SpaceX to build a manufacturing plant which will create it's future mega rocket. This is where Mr Steven is docked.

Weighing nearly 200,000 pounds and 200 feet long, it has been seen making impressive aggressive turns and sprints up to 20 knots (23 mph).

A test run took place yesterday and it must have been successful as we spotted them unloading a fairing.

Update: In January 2019, SpaceX pulled out of the Terminal Island lease, deciding to move the building of a rocket to Texas.

Falcon 9, San Pedro, CA - 19 JAN 2017

While walking the dogs, Todd noticed a very tall crane sitting on the warehouse docks. I told him I saw police lights on that street the night before. So, we had to take a closer look to find out what all the activity was about.

It was a space rocket launcher recovered from the ocean. We went back the next day to get pics.

I'm using Todd's images because my disc crashed when I was downloading. The "Falcon 9" launch vehicle arrived on the 17th (the day I first saw police lights).

Manufactured by SpaceX, it is designed to be reusable.

Per their website: "SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. 

The Port LA, put out a nice 30 second video on it: