The original post: /r/space by /u/Least_Year_2164 on 2025-02-21 20:48:06.

I might be far off. I got hooked on Starship’s hot staging and trajectories after watching Eager Space’s vid on why SpaceX uses it for efficiency (props to that nerdy deep dive). It sparked a wild idea: if Super Heavy can arc further downrange on a ballistic path, why not land it off Africa’s coast—say, Senegal or Namibia—for a Starbase Part 2 or 3? Picture this: launching from Texas or Florida, Super Heavy’s 33 Raptors (16 million pounds of thrust!) sling Starship across the Atlantic. It lands on a droneship or mini-Mechazilla closer to the equator (Senegal’s 14°N, Namibia’s 22°S), nabbing that rotational boost for bigger orbits or lunar/Mars shots, while Starship slingshots onward.

The physics is tempting—more range, better staging, reusable boosters—but it’s not simple. West Africa’s got sparse coasts (Namibia’s Walvis Bay?) and shipping perks, but political stability, infrastructure, and FAA headaches could kill it. SpaceX is already eyeing KSC and Vandenberg, so why bother? Still, I’m vibing on the idea of stretching Super Heavy’s legs. Could Ascension Island or Australia top it? Let’s geek out—what’s your take?