{"id":23610,"date":"2026-01-20T18:06:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/florida-starship-progress-with-launch-sites-at-ksc-and-cape\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T18:06:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:06:15","slug":"florida-starship-progress-with-launch-sites-at-ksc-and-cape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/florida-starship-progress-with-launch-sites-at-ksc-and-cape\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Starship progress with launch sites at KSC and Cape"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Although there has been a pause in launch operations as SpaceX transitions Starship to the Block 3 variant, the company continues to lay the foundations for a rapid launch cadence of its monster rocket out of Starbase and on the East Coast. Florida will see Starship launch out of LC-39A and SLC-37, with the former set to come online later this year.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Starship Flight 12 Nears | Pad 2, Pad 1 Rebuild, Florida Pads &amp; Raptor Testing | Starship Update\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y7SFLkMVUao?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>At 39A \u2014 the historic site once used for Apollo lunar missions and Space Shuttle flights \u2014 crews have installed the shoulder section of the Ship Quick Disconnect (SQD) arm on the integration tower.<\/p>\n<p>Rolled out just days earlier, this key piece enables propellant loading and umbilical connections for the Starship upper stage, with integration to the tower\u2019s systems now underway.<br \/>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111587\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-53-45-618.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1727\" height=\"972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-53-45-618.jpg 1727w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-53-45-618-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-53-45-618-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-53-45-618-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-53-45-618-1170x659.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1727px) 100vw, 1727px\">Public access limitations at the site prevent detailed close-up imagery. Still, ground cameras from NSF\u2019s Space Coast Live captured recent deliveries and installations of hold-down arms for the launch mount, which clamp the Super Heavy booster in place during countdown.<\/p>\n<p>Protective hoods for the booster quick disconnects (BQDs) and shielding doors for post-launch umbilical retraction have also arrived.<\/p>\n<p>A high-resolution Airbus Pleiades NEO satellite image, acquired by NSF contributor Harry Stranger and captured during NASA\u2019s SLS rollout to adjacent LC-39B for Artemis II, offered rare overhead detail of LC-39A.<\/p>\n<p>It showed newly installed pump assemblies and subcoolers at the northern tank farm, propellant lines routed toward the tower, and several missing storage tanks evident from empty pads.<\/p>\n<p>The photo also hinted at renewed use of an Apollo-era spherical tank, also used during the Space Shuttle era, to the northeast. Originally built for liquid hydrogen, the tank was later repurposed by SpaceX for methane storage with subcoolers and chill-down systems.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-54-33-869.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1727\" height=\"972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-54-33-869.jpg 1727w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-54-33-869-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-54-33-869-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-54-33-869-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-54-33-869-1170x659.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1727px) 100vw, 1727px\"><br \/>\nHowever, the tank\u2019s associated hardware was removed in prior years. Nevertheless, fresh propellant lines now point toward it, suggesting a possible return to active service.<\/p>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>Previously covered propellant pipes appeared uncovered again in the latest view, accompanied by staged green deluge pipes for flame suppression, with more deliveries observed on the ground. Flame trench walls continue rising, including a northeast section now aligned flush with the launch mount in a layout similar to Starbase\u2019s Pad 2.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111590\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-56-58-058.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1727\" height=\"972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-56-58-058.jpg 1727w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-56-58-058-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-56-58-058-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-56-58-058-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-56-58-058-1170x659.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1727px) 100vw, 1727px\">Overall, LC-39A\u2019s construction largely mirrors \u2014 though delayed by several months \u2014 the sequence completed at Starbase\u2019s Pad 2 in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>At Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, site clearing and foundation work are underway for what is expected to become another Starship launch complex, potentially with two pads. The effort parallels early demolition and preparation at Starbase\u2019s Pad 1.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111592\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-11-106.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1727\" height=\"972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-11-106.jpg 1727w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-11-106-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-11-106-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-11-106-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-11-106-1170x659.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1727px) 100vw, 1727px\">Inside the secure military base, visibility is limited, but background views from recent Falcon 9 Starlink launches from nearby SLC-40 revealed activity.<\/p>\n<p>The massive LR13000 crane (previously used at LC-39A) is being reassembled to support tower erection, while a continuous flight augering drill installs foundation piles \u2014 drilling holes, filling them with concrete, and inserting rebar cages \u2014 following the same method seen at Starbase\u2019s newer pads.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111593\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-30-539.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1727\" height=\"972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-30-539.jpg 1727w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-30-539-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-30-539-622x350.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-30-539-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NSF-2026-01-20-18-58-30-539-1170x659.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1727px) 100vw, 1727px\">While Florida\u2019s launch infrastructure trails Starbase\u2019s Pad 2, the company\u2019s Gigabay manufacturing buildings tell a different story: the Roberts Road facility in Florida is advancing faster than its Starbase equivalent.<\/p>\n<p>NASASpaceflight\u2019s Julia Bergeron has tracked weekly progress at the Florida Gigabay from across the Indian River, and this week she teamed up with Starbase colleague Colleen Liedtke for side-by-side comparison shots from similar angles.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2011940304572608574&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fflorida-starship-progress-ksc-cape%2F&amp;sessionId=b2efb78a13d940a1a177f681f0122f1548ab3c54&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"2011940304572608574\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1783492744109590117=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Weekly Gigabay update but make it Battle of the Bays! <br \/>I&#8217;ve teamed up with @colleenliedtke at Starbase so we can compare build progress from similar pov&#8217;s.@NASASpaceflight viewshttps:\/\/t.co\/lIR57w4WqB https:\/\/t.co\/LZvzx0tQRq pic.twitter.com\/ysH2TOvIdl<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Julia Bergeron (@julia_bergeron) January 15, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Florida\u2019s structure has reached Level 4 on the western side \u2014 the portion that will eventually adjoin the planned Starfactory. The eastern side, visible farther back, began later and is now starting Level 3.<\/p>\n<p>At Starbase, the Gigabay remains at Level 3 overall. Construction on that level started centrally, with recent work focusing on rear sections facing the Mega Bays; the front (toward Highway 4) is expected to be completed last.<\/p>\n<p>These identical large-scale buildings are central to SpaceX\u2019s goal of dramatically scaling Starship production. When finished, each Gigabay should accommodate significantly more workstations than current Mega Bays, boosting assembly and refurbishment capacity to support far higher flight rates.<\/p>\n<p>Florida\u2019s faster Gigabay progress highlights the state\u2019s expanding importance in the Starship ecosystem, complementing launch site work at LC-39A and SLC-37.<\/p>\n<p><em>Lead image: Airbus Pleiades NEO satellite image, acquired by Harry Stranger \u2013 Click here to support Harry Stranger\u2019s continual purchase of satellite imagery<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although there has been a pause in launch operations as SpaceX transitions Starship to the Block 3 variant, the company continues to lay the foundations for a rapid launch cadence of its monster rocket out of Starbase and on the East Coast. Florida will see Starship launch out of LC-39A and SLC-37, with the former [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7841,7926,1440,739,317],"class_list":["post-23610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-39a","tag-gigabay","tag-slc-37","tag-starbase","tag-starship"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23610"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23610\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}