SpaceX progress on Starship Pad realignment for the future

SpaceX has intensified demolition efforts at Starbase’s Pad 1, in tandem with making significant steps toward constructing an advanced launch infrastructure for its Starship program at Starbase and the Kennedy Space Center. Eventually, all three pads are expected to be near mirrors of each other, hosting the next generation Starship launches.

Over at Starbase’s Pad 1, crews have removed large sections of the launch mount, including the protective shielding around the walkway and portions of the launch ring itself, as the site undergoes a comprehensive overhaul.

The demolition has progressed rapidly. The booster quick disconnect assembly was dismantled after being cut into manageable sections, with most external piping on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) now cleared. It is understood that once the upper launch ring is fully removed, internal hardware will follow, leaving only the OLM legs intact.
The process was not without challenges. At least one fire erupted inside the launch mount during operations but was swiftly extinguished. Ironically, Pad 1 supported 11 launches of the world’s most powerful rocket without incident, yet demolition sparked the blaze.

Concurrently, retention ponds south of the pad have been filled with soil, likely sourced from the removal of the tank farm berm. The deluge plate has been buried under debris from the mount, raising expectations that its removal could begin soon.

Although future Starship pads will employ a traditional flame trench, the deluge plate did prove its worth as a mitigation measure against the rock tornado observed during Flight 1.

It should also be stressed that the teardown is not the end for Pad 1 but a prelude to upgrades. SpaceX aims to rebuild with enhanced designs, including improvements to the launch tower.

While the tower structure remains, outdated systems are being targeted for replacement. For instance, the rear base housing the drawworks—for elevating the “chopsticks” catch arms—has been removed to accommodate a reinforced version seen on Tower 2. The drawworks unit was transported out of Starbase for refurbishment.

Additional tower work includes new maintenance lines for platforms along the columns, facilitating upgrades to rails and steel. The damping system on the chopsticks’ landing rails has also been dismantled for enhancements.

Tank farm operations have seen further stripping, with subcoolers and pipes removed from Pad 1’s side. At least six subcoolers were shipped to SpaceX’s McGregor test site, though their exact purpose remains unclear.

Shifting focus to Florida’s Space Coast, Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) achieved a key milestone with the installation of its new Starship launch mount.

Up close and personal with 39A's OLM for Starship via Max Evans (@_mgde_)https://t.co/fCW6lZAX18 pic.twitter.com/oEVVQWRR8z

— NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) November 4, 2025

On November 4, the mount was transported from the Roberts Road Operations Area to the pad in a four-hour operation. The following day, a single LR 13000 crane lifted and positioned it atop the flame trench, requiring rotation and clearance from one chopstick arm.

Compared to Starbase’s Pad 2—where a similar mount was installed in May—LC-39A’s version arrived more complete, featuring pre-installed deluge manifolds, booster quick disconnect brackets, and a methane hood.

However, LC-39A’s tank farm lags behind, with recent deliveries including a vertical tank and four water deluge tanks by barge to Kennedy Space Center’s Turning Basin, joining three already on site.
SpaceX targets Starship launches from Florida in 2026, potentially aligning with Pad 2’s timeline despite the six-month gap. However, when exactly in 2026 remains an open question.

Back at Starbase’s Pad 2, finishing touches dominate. The service structure now boasts thick steel cladding and a vault-like blast door on one entrance, with another expected soon.
Additional shielding protects interfaces with the mount and flame trench, alongside more covers on vents. Launch mount activities included gas purging of the water-cooled top deck to clear debris, preceding full water tests. Flame trench deluge systems were retested this week.

A highlight was the rollout of a test adapter dubbed “I Be Proofin’” on November 6, designed to simulate a fully fueled Starship’s weight on hold-down arms.

Echoing a 2023 test on Pad 1, this setup—featuring “SpaceX Development Test” markings—will verify arm strength, adapted for Pad 2’s flame trench.

Other Pad 2 developments include high-speed retraction tests of booster quick disconnects, mysterious frames on their hoods, and progress on the ship quick disconnect arm at the Sanchez lot, now fitted with pipework. Heavy lifting gear, including the reactivated LR 11000 crane, signals imminent installation.
Tank farm testing continued, focusing on liquid oxygen supply to the tower. This amid the resumption of piling work across the road for the Air Separation Unit, though full facility details are pending. In a lighter note, trees planted near the launch site wall raise eyebrows about their longevity amid operations.