Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A)

Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A)
LC-39A with Starship Launch and Integration Tower on the left and Falcon 9 on the right on the exisiting Falcon launch pad (Credit: NASA)
Status	Starship Launch Site Under Construction. Falcon pad operational.
Location	Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Specifications
Facility type	Launch Complex
Current Usage	Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches
Infrastructure
See also	Starbase, Starbase Launch/Testing Site

The Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) is one of 3 launch pads at Launch Complex 39 at Cape Canaveral on Merritt Island in Florida. It supported Saturn IB and Saturn V launches during the Apollo program as well as during the Skylab program and was used for the Space Shuttle from 1979 to 2011 when the Shuttle was permanently grounded. SpaceX is leasing the pad from NASA for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets and is building a second launch site for the Starship/Superheavy rocket on pad 39A. Currently one pad is under construction and a second is planned at this location with completion "some time in 2025"

History

After NASA opened up the pad for commercial use, Blue Origin and SpaceX both submitted a bid. Blue Origin requested shared non-exclusive use of the complex while SpaceX wanted to use it exclusively. On December 13, 2013, NASA announced the selection of SpaceX as the new commercial tenant. The agreement was signed on April 14, 2014, giving SpaceX the exclusive use for 20 years. Modifications for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches soon followed. The first launch was on February 19, 2017 for CRS-10.

The company submitted and Environmental Assessment for launches with Starship from LC-39A in August 2019, including plans for the construction of additional structures that would be needed for this, such as tanks, launch pad and a landing zone that would be separate from the existing structures that support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. In 2019, SpaceX began working on substantial modification in order to prepare the pad for Starship launches. However, work on the new area soon came to a halt as SpaceX concentrated work on Starbase and other projects such as installing a crew access arm at SLC-40.

June 2024

On 10 June 2024, Elon Musk mentioned that the are "Targeting first launch from Florida in the middle of 2025".

On 11 June 2024, the "FAA has released a New EIS for LC-39A. This proposal calls for the addition of an air separation unit, a deluge pound, and a dedicated super heavy catch tower to the plans approved in to 2019 Environmental Assessment. It also includes an option to land starships on a drone ship. Note this is only the Public Scoping step, not a final  determination"

LC-39A Improvements Map. c FAA

April 2024

Elon Musk announced on 6 April 2024, that SpaceX plans to have the launch complex operation around middle of 2025. Also, they plan to have two launch towers at the pad, which will serve as the operational launch site.

March 2024

After at least a year of inactivity at the Starship pad and tower on the 12th of March 2024, workers began working on the OLM legs and Chopsticks where they quickly began dismantling part of the OLM's legs. By the 23rd of March 2024, 2 legs had been toppled and removed . On the 27th of March 2024, a third leg was removed and it looks likely SpaceX are going to remove all of the legs however no official statements have been made and it is not known as to why SpaceX is removing the legs. On the 28th of March 2024, a fourth legs was removed.

03 December 2021 Update

On 03 December 2021, Harry Stranger observed movement around the area. Comparing Satellite imagery, he observed that "It appears SpaceX maybe dismantling the Starship mount at LC-39A". Furthermore, when comparing 2021 to 2020 imagery, "The ramp pieces of the flame diverter that were led on the ground are also now gone".

Elon Musk wrote on the same day on Twitter, that "Construction of Starship orbital launch pad at the Cape has begun", however, no time indication was given. On the question, whether this would still be at LC-39A, Musk answered yes. Furthermore, he added that it "Will have similar, but improved, ground systems & tower to Starbase." A statement from NASA spokesperson Laura Aguiar was published by Michael Sheetz. According to this statement, SpaceX is allowed to develop the pad in accordance with the leasing agreement from 2014 within the boundaries of the pad. The necessary environmental assessment was conducted in 2019. This however includes only the construction; for launch and landing, another approval process would be necessary.

August 2019 EIS

[section to be added]

Proposed layout and configuration: