SpaceX is gearing up for an expansion of its Starship operations on Florida’s Space Coast with plans to build new launch pads at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, including at Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37). In order to support the massive propellant requirements of Starship, the company is also working on constructing on-site air separation and methane liquefaction facilities to ensure that launches do not strain supplies used by other operators.
According to a recent update from SpaceX, the company is making significant investments to generate its own propellant by building air separation units and methane liquefaction facilities directly on or adjacent to Starship launch sites. This strategic move will help prevent any disruptions in the availability of commodities like propellant for other launch operators.
This latest development comes nearly four years after SpaceX initially began construction on a dedicated Starship pad in Florida. Since then, the company has been steadily scaling its infrastructure as part of its mission to make life multiplanetary. While SpaceX’s Falcon rockets are already set to launch more than 100 times from Florida in 2025, the company is now shifting its focus towards the next phase with the upcoming debut of its next-generation Starship V3 spacecraft.
Following the success of Starship’s 10th flight test in August, which met all operational goals, SpaceX is now preparing for the heavy flight activity of the Starship V3 in 2026. Additionally, the company is planning to attempt its first-ever “catch” of a Starship upper stage on re-entry that same year.
SpaceX has emphasized that the new Starship clear areas in Florida are being designed based on years of liquid oxygen (LOX)/methane rocket testing and real-world flight data. With this new data and proposed methodology for evaluating blast danger areas for LOX/Methane rockets, SpaceX is confident that Starship operations will not disrupt other launch operators at Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
As demand for access to orbit continues to rise, SpaceX is moving towards “airport-like operations” at U.S. launch sites. The goal is to have multiple rockets from different providers lift off daily with minimal impact on aviation, shipping, or other spaceflight activities.
With these new developments in place, SpaceX is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of space exploration and solidify its position as a leader in the aerospace industry.