On: SpaceX indicates it will manufacture the BFR rocket in Los Angeles

[zip1234]

Traditionally, rockets dropped their boosters. If they are no longer dropping large explosive things, such a requirement could go away.

[lucideer → zip1234]

Even if the intent is not to drop boosters, as long as there's some reasonable chance boosters will be dropped (accidentally), I can see that requirement sticking around.

[vkou → zip1234]

> If they are no longer dropping large explosive things

If you were a rocket engineer, would you stake your life on it? Every single launch?

[baq → vkou]

Are you afraid of jumbo jet engines falling out of the sky near airports?

Exactly, that's the end goal.

[vkou → baq]

The energy output of a jumbo jet is four orders of magnitude less then that of a rocket. A jet engine is equivalent to a controlled fire. A rocket is equivalent to a controlled nuclear explosion.

There's almost as much energy stored in a BFR as there is in the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. This energy is released over 3 minutes.