Starfactory is a facility at Starbase at the Build Site. It was built to facilitate the removal of the old tents, and increase production of Starship components. Once completed, it is expected to produce parts for up to 3 ships per week.
The building features three different heights and is clad in white panels, with black cladding and glass on the front and extends up to the location of the old tents, original ring yard and Mega Bay 2. Most structural steel work has been completed and the facility is now in the process of being fully cladded, roofed and soon outfitted with all the equipment required to fully produce Starships.
A similar building was previously constructed at SpaceX's Robert's Road facility at Cape Canaveral. The building had the name "Starfactory" first. However, with SpaceX deciding to focus on the development of their site in Texas, the building was repurposed to a processing facility for the Starlink satellites ahead of launch on Falcon 9.[1] Thus it was renamed by the community to "Hangar X2"[2].
Usage[]
According to SpaceX, "The 1-million square foot Starfactory brings many parts of the manufacturing process under one roof for the first time, moving as much system integration work as possible earlier in the build process, with the goal of eventually producing 1,000 Ships a year"[3]
History[]
Ground was broken for the first phase of the Starfactory around February 2022, between Tents 3 and 4. In the years that followed, the Starfactory continued to expand with a second phase constructed to the Northeast of the first phase, and then phases 3 and 4 to the Southeast.
As new phases were being constructed, the existing phases became operational. Phase 4 featured a higher roof, and nosecones were witnessed inside of it before it was sealed. Phase 5, which was built to the Southwest of Phase 4, also features a higher roof and may be used for stacking larger components of the Starship prior to stacking in the bays.
Phase 5 was constructed at the site where tents 1, 2 and 3 were previously located. These tents were demolished in mid and late 2023 to make way for the new phase. Glass began being installed on the front of the Starfactory below black cladding on the 7th of March 2024. In May 2024, Kathy Lueders announced that the factory would be finalized by the end of the year.[4]
c RGV Aerial Photography
On 08 March 2025, a new sign was spotted at the Starfactory, indicating the small triangular section of Starfactory is closed. The concrete inside has begun being torn up. Comparing with an old image of a rollout, it could be seen that the lights in that section have been removed. The AC duct has also been cut along the line separating the original footprint from the factory. This could indicate the triangular section will be taken down as a part of the new Gigabay's construction.[5]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXwmEv8cSms
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1755580268663164996
- ↑ https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1845434891430920423
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tgE8r6d5g0UKcN2RcvFXH?si=23245327597b4998&nd=1&dlsi=2599cd2606554aab
- ↑ https://discord.com/channels/577909263012462594/732227281006755922/1347751508325957803