As SpaceX prepares to launch Starship Flight 14 within the coming weeks, work in Florida is increasing the Starship program so the corporate can fly from LC-39A and, finally, SLC-37.
The historic pad that after launched Saturn and Shuttle missions, and now helps Falcon, is predicted to grow to be SpaceX’s second lively Starship launch web site. Pad 1 at Starbase just isn’t anticipated to return to service till later subsequent yr.
Roberts Street
After about 18 months, the Gigabay’s exterior at Roberts Street is almost full. Solely components of the roof and the bigger glass panels on the east aspect stay unfinished.
The lengthy haul now’s putting in the inside techniques. These embody electrical, pneumatic, plumbing, and HVAC, in addition to the transfer-aisle bridge cranes, one in all which is already put in, so far as is thought.
Gigabay work stands are additionally beneath development. Just a few ship and booster stands have been constructed up to now, with embeds staged close by for set up contained in the work cells.
Two booster stands are at present being constructed at Roberts Street. SpaceX will want not less than one booster stand and one ship stand operational when Starbase, Texas, sends autos over.
Lastly, each massive transfer-aisle doorways are sitting off to the aspect, ready to be put in on the Gigabay.
SLC-37A’s launch mount at Roberts Street is coming alongside as properly. The main items of the primary and second ranges are in place and being welded collectively. The 4 sections of the highest deck plate are close by, and one already has the service-structure-side water manifold put in. Just a few extra months of labor stay earlier than the mount is prepared for rollout, however it’s progressing properly.
A pending allow was not too long ago introduced for Venture Ignition: a pair of ship static-fire trenches on the Roberts Street campus.
The ability is slated for a web site northwest of the present Roberts Street buildings, simply off Schwartz Street. Primarily based on the allow, it might be used just for ship cryo and static-fire testing, which implies any booster cryo testing would probably happen at LC-39A.
LC-39A
At LC-39A, crews are getting ready to put in the brand new hardened roof required for ship catches. The LR-11000 crane’s predominant increase has been prolonged, and the crane is raised and standing by for the raise. Alongside that work, the ultimate cladding items are being put in on the pad-facing aspect of the tower.
The remaining tower work contains weight testing of the ship fast disconnect, fast-retract checks, and finally a full purge and tank-farm take a look at on the ship aspect. Ship liquid oxygen pumps are nonetheless lacking, and they’re probably required earlier than crews can absolutely take a look at the ship aspect of the tank farm, and earlier than launch.
The chopsticks are almost absolutely examined. Weight testing was accomplished just a few weeks in the past, together with some higher-speed runs. Extra high-speed testing is probably going required earlier than SpaceX makes an attempt a catch on this tower.
As for the deluge, SpaceX has already examined the ditch system a number of occasions to dial within the newer setup at LC-39A. The highest-deck deluge has not been examined but, however that might come quickly as crews end work on the launch mount.
Total, LC-39A’s Starship pad is near being prepared for a launch. Just a few additions and different remaining objects nonetheless should be completed.
SLC-37
Building at SLC-37 can be shifting rapidly. The 37A launch tower is absolutely stacked and already has the newer roof put in.
Crews now have to attach the interior plumbing, fill the columns with concrete, and connect the remaining tower {hardware}. That {hardware} contains the ship fast disconnect, carriage, and chopsticks, that are close by and being fitted out.
The service construction’s predominant metal is in place and now must be outfitted with {the electrical}, pneumatic, hydraulic, and cryogenic techniques the launch mount requires.
Within the trench, SpaceX seems to have already poured the middle ground; the ramps are subsequent. As soon as these are poured, the flame-trench partitions, already being preassembled close by, shall be put in.
One other main a part of the launch web site is the water deluge system, which already has a number of tanks put in. The deluge farm appears as if it is going to be shared by 37A and 37B.
The primary tank-farm storage tanks have additionally arrived. They look like the identical 1,700-cubic-meter LOX tank design at present used at LC-39A. It’s not but clear what number of of these tanks SLC-37 will get.
SLC-37B’s piles seem full, however no tower sections have been erected but as crews concentrate on SLC-37A. Basis work can be underway within the air separation unit space southeast of the 2 pads.
Ship 40 Replace
Whereas Starship work continues at Cape Canaveral, Ship 40 has been loaded onto the Forte and has begun its journey house to Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX engineers spent a number of days inspecting Ship 40 within the waters off Christmas Island. They collected heatshield samples and gained important perception into how the car dealt with reentry with enhancements now deliberate on future autos pic.twitter.com/8NWXpmhlLi
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 27, 2026
Earlier than leaving Christmas Island, SpaceX engineers sampled Ship 40’s warmth defend to raised perceive what reentry does to Starship. The ship is slated to reach in Brownsville by Oct. 8, although climate and different delays may push that date later.
Featured Picture: Roberts Street and the VAB (credit score: Max Evans for NSF L2 – 100s of hello res images from every of the 100s of flyovers carried out by our group at Cape/KSC, McGregor, Starbase and extra, obtainable to obtain in L2).
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