End of ULA! SpaceX Demolished ULA Launch Pad for Massive Starship Launch. Elon Musk's Reaction...

A major leap forward just happened. ULA's launch site at Complex-37 has been demolished to make way for SpaceX's Starship systems. Is this just routine, or the start of something bigger? Meanwhile, Starship's next flight just got the green light from the FAA, moving closer to launch. But in contrast, Axiom 4 has been delayed indefinitely for an unexpected reason. Let's break it all down in today's episode of Great SpaceX. SpaceX is demonstrating strong determination to bring Starship to Florida, widely recognized as the heart of the aerospace industry. Last year, the company's proposal to conduct 44 Starship launches per year from Launch Complex 39A caught many by surprise. At the time, it appeared to be their final move in Florida. However, a new development has pushed the vision even further. The U.S. Air Force recently released a draft environmental impact statement confirming that Space Launch Complex 37, formerly operated by United Launch Alliance, will be transitioned into a new Starship launch site. This means SpaceX is preparing for a third operational launch complex, joining Starbase in Texas and LC-39A in Florida. The transformation of SLC-37 has officially begun, more than a year after the final Delta IV heavy mission in April of 2024, the former ULA launch facility was dismantled on the 12th of June. Unlike a gradual teardown, the demolition was swift and dramatic. Explosives were used to bring down the lower portion of the structure, causing the entire building to collapse in one powerful motion. Marking the significance of this moment, Elon Musk posted, A new chapter named Starship. Indeed, this marks not just a new chapter for SpaceX, but also a new era for SLC-37 and the broader aerospace industry. ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, once held dominance over American space launches. With a legacy that includes the Atlas and Delta rocket families, ULA has historically been the go-to provider for launching military, government, and scientific payloads into orbit. However, since SpaceX entered the scene, the industry has seen a dramatic shift. Musk's company brought a fresh approach that focused on building modern, low-cost reusable rocket systems that can support a high launch cadence. This strategy allowed SpaceX to quickly gain a commanding presence in the commercial launch market and has increasingly encroached on the government and military sectors as well. In the second phase of the National Security Space Launch Program, the missions were initially divided 60-40 in favor of ULA. Over time, however, that split narrowed to 54-46, and in the more recent Lane 2 Phase 3, SpaceX took the lead, securing 28 out of 54 missions. While ULA was awarded only 19 or 35%. This shift highlights a broader transition between two very different eras in American aerospace, symbolized now by the handover of SLC-37. The transformation of this launch site represents more than just a change in hardware. It is a symbol of the rise of a new philosophy in spaceflight that prioritizes speed, cost efficiency, and reusability. Now that the existing structures have been removed, the next phase of development will begin. The area will be cleared and prepared for foundational work, including excavation and concrete pouring for support structures such as the launch tower base, flame trenches, office buildings, and more. Following that, major components will be stacked and assembled on site. These activities can progress simultaneously, allowing for rapid construction. Based on the pace of similar efforts at Starbase, it is reasonable to expect that the new Starship systems at SLC-37 will be completed within approximately one and a half years. This means we could see Starship launches from this site as early as mid to late 2026. According to Elon Musk, Space Launch Complex 37 will serve as an important Starship launch site, and its future role is not only equal to, but potentially even more significant than other Starship launch locations. This is clearly reflected in the recently released Draft Environmental Impact Statement which outlines SpaceX's plan to conduct 76 Starship launches per year from this site. Each launch would be accompanied by two landings, one for the booster and one for the ship, bringing the total to 152 landings annually. This projected cadence significantly exceeds the planned 44 launches per year from LC-39A and the anticipated 25 launches from Starbase in Texas in the coming years. SLC-37 is being positioned as a cornerstone of SpaceX's long-term vision for rapid, high-frequency space travel. This ambitious plan directly supports some of SpaceX's most daring goals. These include launching 400 missions over the next four years, enabling up to 10 launches per day during Mars windows, and achieving unprecedented reuse targets such as flying a booster every hour and a ship every day. With three launch sites and at least four dedicated Starship launch towers in the pipeline, the Starship program is now poised to surpass even the total number of Falcon 9 launch vehicles in active use. The path to achieving these objectives is no longer a distant dream, it is gradually becoming a realistic roadmap. NASA also stands to gain significantly from these developments. Many of NASA's Starship-related missions, including lunar landings under the Artemis program, will be staged from Florida. This requires a higher rate of test flights and the construction of an in-space refueling infrastructure. SLC-37 will relieve pressure from LC-39A, which may soon face constraints due to ongoing Falcon 9 operations. By expanding Florida's Starship capacity, SpaceX ensures there is adequate support for both commercial and government missions. Looking ahead, what should we expect from the systems that will be built at SLC-37? It is likely that this site will adopt and refine the Pad B style system currently used at Starbase. This means it will feature a robust flame trench, an updated orbital launch mount, and possibly a taller launch tower to accommodate the new Starship configuration. According to the draft EIS, this version of Starship will stand approximately 150 meters tall with increased thrust and payload capacity, similar to the advanced design outlined in the LC-39A development plans. There may even be more than one launch pad constructed at SLC-37, or a dedicated catching tower could be introduced to streamline the landing process. While vehicle assembly in Florida is expected to center around the Roberts Road facility, which SpaceX plans to expand into a full-scale Gigabay or Star Factory, early operations at LC-39A and SLC-37 will likely rely on prototype supply chains from Starbase. In summary, acquiring and upgrading SLC-37 represents a major milestone for SpaceX. It reflects the company's commitment to scaling Starship to meet the demands of the future space economy. Are you excited to see Starship lift off from SLC-37? Then reply, Let's Go 37 in the comment section down below. And don't forget to like the video and subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on SpaceX's groundbreaking journey. The future of Starship has already been mapped out by SpaceX. However, to unlock that future, the company must first complete the crucial next step, the upcoming test mission known as Flight 10. This mission marks another milestone in the development of the fully reusable launch system and could provide further validation of SpaceX's long-term plans for high-frequency, low-cost access to orbit and beyond. Before that can happen, SpaceX must complete two essential tasks. First, the company must meet the Federal Aviation Administration's requirements for mishap investigations. At the time of Flight 9, SpaceX was still in the process of investigating both Flight 8 and Flight 9. Under current FAA regulations, companies are permitted to proceed with new launches, while an investigation into a prior flight is still ongoing, provided public safety can be assured. Recently, SpaceX received positive news from the FAA. The administration formally announced the closure of the Flight 8 mishap investigation, confirming that there are no reports of public injury or damage to public safety. In terms of technical analysis, the FAA reaffirmed the issue that SpaceX had previously identified. The anomaly stemmed from a hardware failure in one of the Raptor engines which led to unintended propellant mixing and ignition. To address these issues, SpaceX implemented eight corrective actions prior to Flight 9. These actions included the addition of insulation to the booster engine igniters. On the ship's side, improvements were made such as adding preload to critical engine joints, introducing a nitrogen purge system, and optimizing the propellant drain system. With the Flight 8 investigation now officially closed, SpaceX can turn its full attention to completing the investigation for Flight 9. Notably, the FAA has waived the requirement to investigate booster-related anomalies, allowing SpaceX to focus solely on issues related to the ship. These include mid-flight failures and concerns regarding the spread of debris. Given that the scope is now more limited, SpaceX may be able to wrap up the remaining investigation relatively quickly. Meanwhile, hardware preparations for Flight 10 are ramping up. Booster 16 has successfully completed a robust static fire test and is now undergoing inspections in the megabay. Ship 36 is also expected to begin moving soon in preparation for integration. As it stands, the timeline for Flight 10 will now depend on SpaceX's ability to complete the remaining review and finalize launch readiness. Do you think Flight 10 will launch this month? Respond yes or no and let us know your thoughts in the comments! Now let us shift our attention to another significant development. The delay of the Axiom 4 crewed mission aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. After experiencing a series of minor delays related to leaks in the launch vehicle, the Axiom 4 mission has encountered a more serious obstacle. A new issue has arisen, not with the rocket, but with the International Space Station itself. Specifically, a leak was detected in the Russian-built Zvezda module, a segment of the station that has been long prone to aging-related problems. NASA stated that the crew aboard the ISS noticed a new pressure signature in the module. While the leak was not entirely unexpected, the problem was originally detected back in 2019 and has been intermittently addressed, its recurrence required further action. Cosmonauts have since sealed additional areas and confirmed that the segment is now holding pressure. Importantly, the station remains safe for all crew members. Nonetheless, NASA and Axiom Space, the Houston-based company managing the Axiom 4 mission, has decided to delay the flight as a precaution. The delay allows NASA and Roscosmos more time to assess the situation and determine if further investigation or mitigation is necessary. Cam Gaffarian, Executive Chairman of Axiom Space, commented on social media stating, "...this is the right thing to do for Axiom Space, for NASA, and for our customers. We will continue to work with all of our partners to finalize a new launch date and look forward to flying the Axiom 4 mission soon." The mission holds particular importance not only because it is crewed, but also because it symbolizes international collaboration, featuring four astronauts from four different countries. Fortunately, the launch vehicle issues that previously delayed the mission have now been resolved. The Axiom 4 mission was originally scheduled for May 29th, then pushed to June 11th due to a leak discovered in the Falcon 9 booster. That issue has since been addressed. SpaceX confirmed via social media that a successful wet dress rehearsal had been completed and that they are working closely with NASA and Axiom Space to determine the next available launch opportunity. As of now, a new launch date has not been finalized. However, the mission could be rescheduled for late June or early July. This timeline may affect the scheduling of Flight 11, which is currently targeted for late July. Crew capacity on the ISS and launch site availability could both play a role in determining the final schedule. As we wait for these developments to unfold, one thing is clear. The journey to the stars is never without its challenges. But with each step, SpaceX continues to push the frontier of space exploration forward. Stay tuned as we follow how these issues are resolved and what comes next for both Starship and Crew Dragon. This has been Kevin with GreatSpaceX. Don't forget to like the video and subscribe if you haven't already to stay up to date with yours truly on the latest milestones in SpaceX's journey. Thank you so much for watching and always remember, curiosity, imagination and inspiration will follow you so long as you keep looking up.