Project Able Baker: Maritime Re-purposing of Offshore Infrastructure for Resilient Launch-Vehicle Recovery

Project Able Baker seeks to repurpose decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms into Sea-Based Recovery Stations (SBRS) for reusable launch vehicles. This initiative aims to enhance launch cadence, reduce operational costs, and promote environmental stewardship by leveraging existing infrastructure instead of costly platform removal. Phase I focuses on feasibility, including structural load analysis, environmental impact assessment, economic studies, and regulatory roadmap development. Deliverables include a feasibility report, environmental baseline, safety assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and regulatory pathway. Phase II will involve engineering design, prototype development, physical validation testing, and refinement of environmental mitigation strategies. The project also emphasizes a digital twin advancement to simulate impacts. Phase III envisions an operational maritime infrastructure network with dual-use applications for military space access, responsive space missions, and commercial launch recovery, offering a scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for maritime launch recovery and offshore infrastructure repurposing.