SpaceX is once again rewriting the rules of aerospace engineering—and this time, they’re doing something no launch provider has ever attempted. While Starbase’s Launch Pad 1 is being torn down to its foundations, Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A is simultaneously being built up into a fully integrated next-generation Starship launch site, ready for operations by 2026.
This double-site overhaul is not a coincidence. It’s the clearest sign yet that SpaceX is preparing for high-frequency Starship operations, interplanetary missions, and the debut of Starship Version 3 (V3)—the most advanced version of the vehicle to date.
In today’s deep-dive, we’ll explore exactly what’s happening at Starbase and LC-39A, why the old hardware is being scrapped, how fast the upgrades are progressing, and what all this means for Starship’s path toward orbital refueling, lunar missions, and eventually Mars.
Starbase Launch Pad 1 — From Iconic Test Site to Massive Demolition Zone
Starbase Pad 1 is famous.
It’s the place where:
- Super Heavy boosters roared through fiery static fires
- 11 historic Starship flights began their journey
- SpaceX attempted its first booster catches
But today?
It’s being demolished—fast.
This isn’t random destruction. Instead, SpaceX is ripping out the old infrastructure to make room for a significantly upgraded integrated launch mount tailored for Starship Version 3 vehicles.
The Old OLM Is Being Scrapped Completely
One of the six massive OLM legs has already been:
- Unbolted
- Cut loose
- Pulled down with a crane
Workers have been slicing through:
- Upper OLM ring components
- Lower support beams
- Steel connections between the six legs
Some pieces were carefully lifted out.
Others were dropped to the ground with an earth-shaking thud.
None of this hardware is being reused.
Most will be sold to scrap yards and melted into raw steel.
Even the cable chain that once fed power and data to the tower chopsticks has been detached—another sign that this pad is being rebooted from scratch.
Water Deluge System — Out With the Old, In With the Next-Gen
Beneath the mount lies a buried steel deluge plate—the system that once blasted water to protect the pad. That’s being removed as well.
SpaceX is shifting to a next-gen deluge system, capable of:
- Higher water flow rates
- Multi-directional spray patterns
- Superior heat absorption
It’s the same setup we’ve seen tested at Pad 2, where huge columns of water burst into the air during system checks.
What Comes Next for Starbase Pad 1?
After demolition, the rebuild includes:
- A new flame trench
- Advanced high-capacity deluge system
- Next-generation integrated OLM
- Refurbished chopsticks
- Full tank farm reintegration
- Hundreds of system verification tests
This will take time—and that’s why all eyes are turning to Florida.
LC-39A — The Cape Is Now Ahead of Starbase
Here’s the surprising twist:
The Starship launch site at Kennedy Space Center is pulling ahead of Starbase.
While Texas undergoes demolition, Florida is entering the final stretch of construction.
The Massive Next-Gen Launch Mount Has Been Installed
Around November 5th, SpaceX rolled a completely new integrated launch mount from Roberts Road to LC-39A.
This is the same style mount destined for Starbase—a giant box-shaped structure with modern cooling and deluge features built right in.
A giant crane lowered it into the flame trench, reaching one of the biggest milestones for the Cape’s Starship program.
SpaceX VP of Launch, Kiko Dontchev, even shared stunning photos showing the mount locked into place. His caption excited the entire space community:
“Can’t wait for the first V3 Starship launch, and soon after, the first Starship launch from the Cape.”
When Kiko says that, you know things are real.
The Tower and Chopsticks Have Been Ready Since 2022
Unlike Starbase, where everything is being rebuilt, LC-39A already has:
- A fully assembled launch tower
- Mounted chopsticks
- Installed quick-disconnect and methane hood systems
They’ve been waiting for their chance to support launches for years.
Tank Farm — The Last Big Piece
The only major component still progressing is the tank farm, including:
- Liquid methane tanks
- Liquid oxygen tanks
- Seven huge deluge water tanks
Most of these are already being shipped in or are on-site.
When SpaceX gets regulatory approval, installation will accelerate rapidly.
FAA Approval Is Near
The FAA’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):
- Was released in August 2025
- Has completed public hearings
- Is expected to finalize before the end of the year
Approval will allow 40+ Starship launches annually from LC-39A.
With that green light, system testing can begin immediately.
First Florida Launch Timeline
The first Starship Version 3 launch from Florida is now targeting:
👉 Spring 2026
The missions will focus on:
- Starlink deployment
- Orbital refueling test flights
- Booster catch trials
But here’s the fun twist:
Starship production at the Cape hasn’t started yet.
So the first ever Florida Starship launch may involve:
A Fully built Starship + Super Heavy shipped from Starbase by boat.
That alone would be a spectacle.
Starship Version 3 – The Vehicle Behind This Massive Construction Push
SpaceX isn’t upgrading the pads for nothing.
A new Starship variant—Version 3 (V3)—is about to debut.
Ship 39 — The First Ever V3 Starship
Ship 39 recently received its A-section, completing the major exterior build.
It’s being prepared for:
- Cryogenic proof testing
- Structural load checks
- Mass simulator operations
At the Massie test site, this could begin soon.
Booster 18 — Fully Stacked and Waiting
Booster 18 is fully assembled in Mega Bay 1.
But SpaceX seems to be waiting on:
- Final integration of ceramic heat shield tiles
- Reallocated tiles taken from Booster 17 (now officially retired)
The biggest hint?
Booster 17’s tiles were removed in Rocket Garden—likely for reuse.
Block 3 Booster Testing Underway
At the Massie outpost, test tank B18.3 is undergoing stress and cryo cycles to validate the Block 3 design.
And then something unexpected:
The Western Tower Crane Started Spinning Uncontrollably—Twice.
This rare glitch caused the crane to rotate for hours, despite being designed to “weather-vane” gently in the wind.
No injuries, no damage—but definitely a strange sight.
McGregor — Where Raptor 3 Engines Are Being Pushed to Their Limits
McGregor, Texas, remains the unsung hero of Starship development.
Every Raptor engine is tested here—sometimes to destruction.
A Raptor 3 Engine Blew Up During Startup
This wasn’t during a long burn, but at ignition—unusual for Raptor.
While this might sound alarming, it’s actually part of SpaceX’s philosophy:
- Push hardware past the limits
- Learn where failure happens
- Adjust margins before flight
This is how they’ve made Raptor one of the world’s most reliable high-performance engines.
Why Startup Testing Matters
Starship Version 3 will require perfect engine reliability for:
- Orbital refueling
- High-precision restarts
- Long-coast payload deployments
- Two-stage landing maneuvers
Flight 12, scheduled for January, will include:
👉 The first ever in-space restart of Raptor 3.
This is a critical milestone for lunar and Mars missions.
The Bigger Picture — Starship Is Ramping Up Toward Its Lunar Timeline
A leaked internal SpaceX email outlines the upcoming lunar milestones:
2026 — Orbital Refueling Prep Missions Begin
(These require flawless in-space engine restarts.)
June 2027 — Uncrewed Lunar Landing Demo
September 2028 — First Crewed Lunar Landing
This matches NASA’s Artemis schedule and shows how aggressively SpaceX is pushing forward.
Why Two Pads, Two States, and the Same Upgrade?
SpaceX’s goal is clear:
High-throughput Starship operations.
To reach that goal, they need:
- Faster launch cadence
- More robust hardware
- Easier maintenance
- Redundant launch capability
- Improved safety margins
By upgrading both Starbase and LC-39A to the same next-gen infrastructure, SpaceX will soon be able to support:
- Weekly flights
- Rapid booster reuse
- Orbital refueling chains
- Large-scale Starlink deployment
- Lunar and Mars cargo deliveries
No aerospace company has ever attempted this.
And yet, SpaceX is doing it simultaneously—one pad being fully torn down while the other rises from the flame trench.
Final Thoughts — Starship Version 3 Will Change Everything
SpaceX is not just improving hardware—they’re building the industrial backbone for a multi-planetary system.
With:
- Pad 1 being rebuilt from scratch
- LC-39A nearly ready for operations
- Raptor 3 entering extreme testing
- Ship 39 and Booster 18 preparing for rollout
- Regulatory approval close at hand
All signs point to 2026 becoming the most important year in Starship’s history.
And it begins now, with the double pad overhaul, something no other company has even attempted.
Humanity’s next giant leap is being welded, lifted, and tested today.
FAQs
1. Why is SpaceX demolishing Starbase Launch Pad 1?
SpaceX is tearing down Pad 1 to rebuild it with a next-generation integrated launch mount designed for Starship Version 3, which requires stronger structures, better cooling, and improved deluge systems.
2. Will any parts of the old OLM be reused?
No. SpaceX is scrapping the entire old launch mount, including its legs, beams, and cable systems. Most metal will be recycled for raw steel.
3. What is replacing the Starbase Pad 1 launch mount?
A massive, box-shaped next-generation integrated OLM—identical to the one recently installed at LC-39A—is being built to support Starship V3 vehicles.
4. What upgrades are coming to the Starbase deluge system?
SpaceX is installing a multi-directional, high-flow deluge system similar to the one tested at Pad 2, capable of handling the intense heat and pressure of V3 launches.
5. When will Starbase Pad 1 be operational again?
After demolition, SpaceX must build the flame trench, new OLM, deluge hardware, and integrate tank farm systems. The rebuild will extend well into 2026.
6. Why is LC-39A further along than Starbase?
LC-39A didn’t need demolition. Its tower and chopsticks were finished in 2022, so installing the new OLM quickly moved the Florida site ahead.
7. What is special about the new LC-39A launch mount?
It integrates deluge manifolds, methane hoods, and quick-disconnect systems directly into the mount, making maintenance faster and safer.
8. When is the first Starship launch from Florida expected?
Spring 2026, using the first Starship Version 3 vehicle.
9. Will the first Florida Starship be built at Kennedy Space Center?
No. Since the Cape Gigabay isn’t producing Starships yet, the first stack will likely be shipped from Starbase by boat.
10. What upgrades do Starship Version 3 vehicles have?
Starship V3 includes improved heat shielding, stronger structures, upgraded avionics, and compatibility with Raptor 3 engines and the new ground systems.
11. What’s the status of Ship 39 (the first V3 ship)?
Ship 39 recently had its A-section installed and is preparing for cryogenic proof testing at the Massie test site.
12. Why were tiles removed from Booster 17?
The ceramic tiles were stripped so they can be reused on Booster 18, confirming that Booster 17 is officially retired.
13. What happened to the crane spinning incident at Starbase?
A western tower crane malfunctioned and weather-vained uncontrollably for hours, but no damage or injuries occurred.
14. Why did a Raptor 3 engine explode during testing?
The engine failed during startup. This is likely due to intentional edge-case testing where SpaceX pushes engines past safe limits to gather valuable data.
15. Why are Raptor 3 in-space restarts so important?
In-space restarts are critical for orbital refueling, payload deployments, long-coast maneuvers, and Starship’s two-stage landing sequence.
16. What Starship missions are coming next?
Flight 12 (January) will test in-space Raptor 3 restarts, with several payload and landing-sequence missions following in early 2026.
17. What are the upcoming lunar mission milestones?
- Orbital refueling prep missions: June 2026
- Uncrewed lunar landing demo: June 2027
- First crewed lunar landing: September 2028
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