The US Air Force is looking to repurpose offshore oil rigs into landing platforms to recover rocket boosters launched by the US Space Force and private spaceflight companies.
This proposal, called Project Able Baker, aims to provide a cheaper way of retrieving reusable heavy-lift rockets and give decommissioned oil platforms a new purpose.
The Air Force sees these old oil platforms as an alternative to using ships to recover rockets, which could reduce dependence on expensive custom-built drone ships and facilitate higher launch frequencies. The first phase of the solicitation calls for companies to establish the technical and economic feasibility of the concept, focusing on structural load analysis and environmental impact assessment.
