SpaceX has officially kicked off the construction of a new Starship launch pad at Cape Canaveral, a significant move in expanding the company’s Florida-based launch infrastructure. This development was confirmed by SpaceX, which announced that it has received approval to repurpose Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) for Starship operations at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
In a statement on X, SpaceX confirmed the start of construction, highlighting that with three launch pads in Florida, Starship will be well-positioned to support America’s national security and Artemis goals as the premiere spaceport continues to evolve into a hub for airport-like operations. The company expressed gratitude towards the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Fish and Wildlife Service for their collaboration on the environmental review that paved the way for the project to move forward.
The commencement of construction follows SpaceX’s earlier announcement in September outlining plans to enhance Starship facilities at the Cape, including the development of new infrastructure at both SLC-37 and Space Launch Complex 39A (SLC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Just recently, SpaceX’s VP of Launch, Kiko Dontchev, provided an update on the progress of the Starship pad being constructed at SLC-39A, offering a glimpse of the massive structures taking shape along Florida’s Space Coast.
As SpaceX gears up for the next generation of its fully reusable launch system, the company retired the Starship V2 design after its successful 11th test flight in October. The upcoming flight test, slated for early 2026, will introduce Starship V3—a significantly upgraded design that Elon Musk has indicated will see extensive flight activity in the coming year. Dontchev mentioned that the first Starship launch from Cape Canaveral is anticipated shortly after the inaugural Starship V3 test flight.
Amidst the rapid construction progress at various sites, SpaceX is getting the Cape ready for the high-cadence Starship operations required to support lunar missions, national security payloads, and future deep-space flights. The expansion positions Florida as the primary hub for Starship’s long-term launch campaign as the vehicle edges closer to operational readiness.