Orbital Launch and Integration Tower 2 (OLIT #2) is a Starship launch tower at Cape Canaveral. It is the second tower to be constructed overall and the first at the LC-39A. Although stacked, it is not expected to become operational until no earlier than mid 2025.
Work is actively underway to bring the pad operational including the installation of new ground support equipment, chopstick reinforcements and recently work drilling pilings for a brand new flame trench likely similar to that also under construction at OLIT-3
Elon Musk has said that developmental launches may be done from Boca Chica, and commercial and operational launches from Cape Canaveral.
How vehicles are moved between sites may be speculated: The Ship may launch from Boca Chica and then land at the Cape. The Booster however would have to fly a ballistic trajectory with high reentry heating covering a distance of ~1600 km (~1000 miles), which it may not be designed for (it currently only ascends some 100 km). Therefore, Booster parts could be produced at Boca Chica, and assembled at the Cape (see Gigabay), or entire Boosters could be moved on a barge (given their low center of mass).
Construction History[]
On March 9 2022 the first tower module (or section) was build at Roberts road. On the 18th of March work on the concrete base was underway and construction of the second module was started. On the 16th of May the first OLM leg was spotted and on the 3th of June all legs were vertical. The first module was placed on the base of the OLIT on the 21st of June and the stacking of the full tower was completed on the 16th of September. On the 7th of October a deluge manifold was lifted into place. The shorter chopsticks were lifted on the carriage system in February 2023. All work stopped at 39a before the first flight test of Starship, to await the results of the flight. On March 23 2024, the first two OLM legs were removed, likely because of a redesign of the foundation/OLM.
OLM parts spotted at Roberts Road facility. c Greg Scott
In November 2024, Greg Scott spotted new parts for the OLM at Pad 39A.[1] The following month, on December 26, 2024, Nasaspaceflight confirmed that the Chopsticks were moving for the first time in the 2 years since its installation.[2]
In January 2025, Foundation work for the future OLM and flametrench started. Also, supports for the build of a new OLM, possibly for OLIT-2, were spotted at the Roberts Road facility.[3]
Supports for the build of a new OLM. c Harry Stranger
Announcements and updates[]
3 March 2025 - SpaceX web update[]
« In addition to continued infrastructure development at Starbase, Texas, where SpaceX is headquartered, SpaceX is expanding its Starship operations in Florida, bringing Starship production and launch capabilities to the Space Coast. As flight testing and development of Starship continues at Starbase in Texas, SpaceX is building a new integration facility, called Gigabay, next to its HangarX location at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Additionally, SpaceX plans to complete the Starship launch pad at Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center this year while the Environmental Impact Statements continue for potential Starship flight operations from both LC-39A and Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).[4] »