A New Era for the Space Coast: SpaceX Announces Starship Starfactory and GigaBay Coming to Florida

SpaceX is accelerating the expansion of its Starship operations beyond Texas, bringing production and launch capabilities to Florida’s Space Coast.

Bringing Starship to Florida

While Starbase, Texas, continues to serve as the central hub for Starship flight testing and development, new facilities at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) will soon host critical elements of the Starship program.

Among the key developments in Florida is the construction of Gigabay, a massive integration and refurbishment facility adjacent to HangarX at KSC. At the same time, SpaceX is progressing with the completion of Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) for Starship flights, with environmental impact assessments underway to determine the feasibility of launching Starship from Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at CCSFS.

By diversifying its launch and production infrastructure, SpaceX is laying the groundwork to significantly scale up Starship’s flight rate, a crucial step toward achieving full reusability, interplanetary transport, and economic expansion into space.

Gigabay: A Starship Integration Powerhouse

The Gigabay facility in Florida will be one of SpaceX’s largest integration hubs, designed to accommodate the assembly, refurbishment, and processing of both Starship upper stages and Super Heavy boosters. Standing 380 feet tall, Gigabay will boast an interior volume of 46.5 million cubic feet with 815,000 square feet of workspace.

Key features include:

• 24 work cells for integration and refurbishment.

• Crane capacity up to 400 US tons, more than twice the lifting power of existing facilities.

• A top-floor workspace for engineering teams and mission planners.

Compared to the Megabay at Starbase, Gigabay will offer 11 times the square footage, 19 more work cells, and a greater processing capacity, allowing for a much higher volume of Starship refurbishment and launch preparation.

Construction Timeline

Site preparation for Gigabay Florida has already begun, with the facility expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Simultaneously, SpaceX is constructing a similar Gigabay at Starbase, Texas, adjacent to the Starship Starfactory, SpaceX’s dedicated Starship manufacturing facility.

Beyond Gigabay, SpaceX is also planning to build a co-located Starfactory in Florida, mirroring the one at Starbase, to manufacture Starships and Super Heavy boosters locally. However, until these facilities are fully operational, Starship vehicles will be transported via barge from Texas to Florida, ensuring initial launches can begin while Florida-based production ramps up.

Starship Launch Operations at Kennedy Space Center

SpaceX is actively constructing a Starship launch and catch tower at LC-39A, the same historic site that has hosted Apollo missions and Crew Dragon launches.

LC-39A Starship Pad Features:

• A new launch and catch tower, incorporating lessons learned from the two Starship launch towers at Starbase.

• A deflector system for sound suppression and thermal protection, modeled after the latest Starbase design.

• Capability to support rapid turnaround for Starship missions, crucial for high-frequency launches.

The launch deflector system installation is expected to begin in the coming months, setting the stage for the first Starship launch from Florida in late 2025, pending environmental approvals.

Expanding to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

To achieve a higher flight cadence, SpaceX is also exploring the possibility of launching Starship from Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at CCSFS. Currently, an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is underway to assess the feasibility of using SLC-37 for Starship missions.

Why SLC-37?

• Historical significance: Originally built in the 1960s for the Apollo program, SLC-37 supported Saturn I and Saturn IB rocket launches before hosting Delta IV missions from 2002 to 2024.

• Strategic location: SLC-37 offers direct access to a wide range of orbits, making it an ideal location for Starship’s deep space, lunar, and interplanetary missions.

• Enhanced launch rate: With LC-39A and SLC-37 both operational, SpaceX could dramatically increase Starship’s flight frequency to support NASA, national security, and commercial customers.

SpaceX has already secured a limited Right of Entry for SLC-37, allowing teams to conduct further site assessments and infrastructure planning. The results of the EIS will determine the timeline for future Starship operations at CCSFS.

The Path to a Multiplanetary Future

Starship represents a paradigm shift in space transportation. Designed to be the first fully and rapidly reusable rocket, Starship is not only intended for launching satellites and cargo but also for enabling human spaceflight to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

With Gigabay, LC-39A, and a potential SLC-37 expansion, SpaceX is solidifying Florida’s role as a central hub for the future of space exploration.

As these developments progress, 2025 and beyond promise to be transformative years for Starship’s journey toward making humanity a multiplanetary species.