{"id":23637,"date":"2025-12-16T23:51:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-advances-starbase-upgrades-at-the-launch-site\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T23:51:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:51:05","slug":"spacex-advances-starbase-upgrades-at-the-launch-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-advances-starbase-upgrades-at-the-launch-site\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX advances Starbase upgrades at the launch site"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SpaceX continues rapid infrastructure improvements at its Starbase facility in South Texas, with demolition work progressing on the original Pad 1 while construction and testing advance on the newer Pad 2, along with a new ASU facility for on-site commodities. These efforts are aimed at supporting future versions of the Starship vehicle and increasing launch cadence.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Booster 19 on Track, Pad 2 Comes Alive | Major Starship Updates from Starbase\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lHsgTygEIiY?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 Pad 1, crews are actively dismantling legacy structures to prepare for significant upgrades. Following the removal of the launch mount several weeks ago, demolition has focused on the massive water-cooled steel plate that previously sat beneath it.<\/p>\n<p>Workers have employed jackhammers, excavators, and blowtorches to remove large sections of steel. Trucks loaded with concrete and rebar have been observed leaving the site, as teams clear the way for a new flame trench design tailored to upcoming Starship iterations.<br \/>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111162\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-14-10-879.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1587\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-14-10-879.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-14-10-879-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-14-10-879-627x350.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-14-10-879-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-14-10-879-1170x653.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\"><br \/>\nAdditionally, portions of the old tank farm\u2014including tanks used for methane reclamation during prior propellant loading operations\u2014have been removed and transported to the Port of Brownsville.<\/p>\n<p>The future use of these tanks remains unclear, though SpaceX\u2019s history of reusing hardware suggests potential redeployment, possibly even at facilities on Florida\u2019s Space Coast.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111163\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-15-32-930.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1587\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-15-32-930.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-15-32-930-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-15-32-930-627x350.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-15-32-930-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-15-32-930-1170x653.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\">Work on Pad 1\u2019s launch tower continues concurrently, with crews utilizing movable scaffolding to service the tower columns.<\/p>\n<p>The tower\u2019s iconic \u201cchopsticks\u201d\u2014the mechanical arms used for stacking and catching Starship stages\u2014have had their ends capped after recent modifications, signaling the completion of cutting operations. This paves the way for installing updated equipment similar to that on Pad 2\u2019s system.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111164\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-16-38-362.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1587\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-16-38-362.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-16-38-362-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-16-38-362-627x350.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-16-38-362-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-16-38-362-1170x653.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\">Meanwhile, Pad 2\u2014expected to host future Starship launches for the foreseeable future\u2014has seen substantial progress.<\/p>\n<p>The launch mount\u2019s top deck remains surrounded by scaffolding, indicating ongoing final work ahead of booster testing. Protective doors for the hold-down arms, designed to shield them from the exhaust of Super Heavy\u2019s 33 Raptor engines during liftoff, have been lowered in recent tests.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111165\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-17-21-612.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1587\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-17-21-612.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-17-21-612-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-17-21-612-627x350.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-17-21-612-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-17-21-612-1170x653.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\">Pad 2 incorporates several design improvements over its predecessor, notably the elimination of Raptor quick disconnects on the booster side. Propellant loading will now rely primarily on two dedicated booster quick disconnects\u2014one for liquid methane and one for liquid oxygen.<\/p>\n<p>Recent observations include the attachment of specialized hardware to the methane quick disconnect, potentially a test plate to verify compatibility with booster interfaces.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111166\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-20-46-844.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1587\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-20-46-844.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-20-46-844-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-20-46-844-627x350.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-20-46-844-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-20-46-844-1170x653.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\">On the tower, the Ship Quick Disconnect arm has been fully integrated with fluid and power lines. The arm\u2019s end section, which interfaces directly with the Starship upper stage, is undergoing outfitting at a nearby production site, including mounting points for the quick disconnect plate and connection mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>Pad 2\u2019s chopsticks\u2014the third set produced by SpaceX\u2014continue to receive upgrades, despite already incorporating advancements over earlier versions at Pad 1 and Kennedy Space Center\u2019s LC-39A. Additional hardware has been added to the carriage system near the tower\u2019s cable tray, possibly including new control panels.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-22-33-582.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1587\" height=\"886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-22-33-582.jpg 1587w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-22-33-582-350x195.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-22-33-582-627x350.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-22-33-582-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-22-33-582-1170x653.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1587px) 100vw, 1587px\">Testing activities at Pad 2 have intensified, with multiple runs of the water deluge system through the flame trench conducted in recent weeks\u2014far exceeding the testing scope seen with Pad 1\u2019s original steel plate deluge. Full testing of the top deck\u2019s deluge system is anticipated soon.<\/p>\n<p>Across the launch site, repairs to concrete foundations for the Air Separation Unit (ASU)\u2014which will produce liquid oxygen and nitrogen on-site\u2014were completed recently. Fresh concrete pours have cured, allowing installation of air compressor motors essential for operations.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-111179 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-48-54-500.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1581\" height=\"884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-48-54-500.jpg 1581w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-48-54-500-350x196.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-48-54-500-626x350.jpg 626w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-48-54-500-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-48-54-500-1170x654.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1581px) 100vw, 1581px\">This facility is a key move to produce liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) directly on-site. Located across the highway from the main launch pads for safety and spacing reasons, the ASU aims to drastically reduce the company\u2019s dependence on external suppliers and long-haul cryogenic tanker deliveries.<\/p>\n<p>The ASU will separate atmospheric air through cryogenic distillation, generating the essential propellants and purging gases needed for Starship operations.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, Starbase relies on hundreds of truck deliveries per launch campaign, often from plants hundreds of miles away, creating logistical bottlenecks and vulnerabilities.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-24-35-556.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1329\" height=\"766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-24-35-556.jpg 1329w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-24-35-556-350x202.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-24-35-556-607x350.jpg 607w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-24-35-556-768x443.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-24-35-556-1170x674.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1329px) 100vw, 1329px\"><br \/>\nOn-site production is expected to enable faster tank farm refills, lower costs, and support SpaceX\u2019s goal of a dramatically higher launch cadence\u2014potentially dozens of flights per year.<\/p>\n<p>Construction of the Starbase ASU began in earnest in July 2025, following environmental approvals from Cameron County earlier that summer. It is now undergoing significant progress, with land clearing, site preparation, and structural work underway during the pre-Flight 12 window.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111170\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-26-01-802.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1765\" height=\"1058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-26-01-802.jpg 1765w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-26-01-802-350x210.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-26-01-802-584x350.jpg 584w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-26-01-802-768x460.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NSF-2025-12-16-09-26-01-802-1170x701.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1765px) 100vw, 1765px\">It will complement a larger ASU being built by industrial gas giant Linde in nearby Brownsville, a $100 million project expected to come online in 2026. While Linde\u2019s plant will provide bulk supply and reduce delivery distances from over 500 miles to under 50, SpaceX\u2019s dedicated unit offers immediate, tailored capacity for the launch site.<\/p>\n<p>The dual approach underscores the massive scale of Starship\u2019s propellant demands and SpaceX\u2019s preparations for frequent operations en route to Mars ambitions. As Starbase evolves into a full-fledged rocket production and launch hub, the ASU marks a pivotal step toward self-sufficiency and operational resilience.<\/p>\n<p>These parallel efforts at Starbase underscore SpaceX\u2019s push toward more reliable, high-cadence Starship operations, paving the way for advanced vehicle testing and missions in the coming year.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Lead image via Ceaser G for NSF).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-111171\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-350x75.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-630x135.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-768x164.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-1920x410.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Banner_Web_support_nsf-1170x250.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SpaceX continues rapid infrastructure improvements at its Starbase facility in South Texas, with demolition work progressing on the original Pad 1 while construction and testing advance on the newer Pad 2, along with a new ASU facility for on-site commodities. These efforts are aimed at supporting future versions of the Starship vehicle and increasing launch [&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":[7951,7867,316,739,317],"class_list":["post-23637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-asu","tag-pads","tag-spacex","tag-starbase","tag-starship"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23637"}],"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=23637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23637\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}