SpaceX has officially begun construction on a new Starship launch pad at Cape Canaveral, marking a major step forward in expanding the company’s Florida-based launch infrastructure. The update comes directly from SpaceX, which announced that it has received approval to develop Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) for Starship operations at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
“Construction has started,” the company confirmed on X, adding that with three launch pads in Florida, Starship will be positioned to “support America’s national security and Artemis goals as the world’s premiere spaceport continues to evolve to enable airport-like operations.”
SpaceX also thanked the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Fish and Wildlife Service for their work on the environmental review that enabled development to move forward.
The start of construction follows SpaceX’s September announcement outlining plans to expand Starship facilities at the Cape, including new infrastructure at both SLC-37 and Space Launch Complex 39A (SLC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Just last month, SpaceX’s VP of Launch, Kiko Dontchev, shared a progress update on the Starship pad under construction at SLC-39A, offering a rare look at the massive structures rising along Florida’s Space Coast.
The ramp-up comes as SpaceX transitions to the next generation of its fully reusable launch system. The company retired the Starship V2 design after its 11th test flight in October, having met all planned objectives. The next flight test, expected in early 2026, will debut Starship V3 — a significantly updated design Elon Musk has said will see “heavy flight activity” throughout next year. According to Dontchev, the first Starship launch from Cape Canaveral is expected soon after the inaugural Starship V3 test flight.
As construction accelerates across multiple sites, SpaceX is preparing the Cape for the high-cadence Starship operations it will need to support lunar missions, national security payloads, and future deep-space flights. The expansion positions Florida to become the primary hub for Starship’s long-term launch campaign as the vehicle inches closer to operational status.
