StarshipDataBase
Launch Complex 39A is a historic launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center after being used by Apollo and the Space Shuttle, was leased to SpaceX for use by Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. In 2025 SpaceX began spooling down most Falcon ops at the pad in favor of future Starship operations. The Starship side of the complex is still under construction, with hopes for use later in 2026.
A very historic site, 39A has been leased by SpaceX since 2014, with the first Falcon 9 launch in 2017. The pad would be used by Falcon 9/Heavy exclusively until 2019 when the first starship structures appeared. Today the pad is rarely used by Falcon, as focus has shifted on to building the Starship strucutures.
The first signs of Starship at 39A were in 2019 when SpaceX submitted an Envionrmental Assessment for Starship launches at the pad. These included addition structures, such as tanks, to support the operations. Later that year they began working on a site nearby the falcon pad, however work here stopped shortly after as SpaceX shifted focus to Starbase.
Starting in 2024, work resumed at the Starship site. With chopstick and OLM legs appearing, before the OLM legs were toppled shortly after. This was due to the design change to the V3 version of the pad. In April of 2025 work on a new flame trench was spotted. As of July 2026, the pad nears operation with the chopsticks starting to test though it is unknown if by their own movement.
SpaceX has shown plans to transport vehicles from Starbase to Florida for launch from 39A before the Robert Roads production is ready. Horizontal Starship transport is still much a mystery, and will get its own entry in the database.
General Information
LC39A Wikipedia PageTimelines
Fandom Wiki pageReddit Image
2019 Starship Structure Image from Reddit