SpaceX has removed the Crew Access Arm (CAA) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, effectively pausing human spaceflight missions utilizing the Crew Dragon spacecraft from the historic launchpad. The removal, completed on , signals a strategic shift towards prioritizing Starship development and launches at the site, while continuing Crew Dragon missions from Space Launch Complex 40.
LC-39A holds a significant place in space exploration history, having served as the launch site for both the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program. SpaceX began launching from the pad in , installing the CAA in to facilitate crewed missions. The first crewed Dragon flight from 39A occurred in , and since then, all but one SpaceX crewed launch originated from the pad.
The decision to remove the CAA isn’t solely driven by the focus on Starship. According to Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of build and flight reliability, the bearings connecting the arm to the launch pad’s tower require repair. “To physically get access to those, the arm needs to be removed,” Gerstenmaier explained. “Those bearings have to come out and they have to be reinstalled. We’ll do that work at the Kennedy Space Center.” SpaceX maintains the capability to reinstall the arm should future Dragon missions require it, stating they have “plenty of time to get the arm back up” if needed.
The move aligns with SpaceX’s broader plans to dedicate LC-39A to Falcon Heavy and, crucially, Starship launches. A new launch tower for Starship is already under construction approximately 1,000 feet east of the existing tower at LC-39A. SpaceX aims to conduct the first Starship flight from Kennedy Space Center later this , following ongoing test flights from its Starbase facility in South Texas.
Meanwhile, Falcon 9 launches, including all future Crew Dragon missions, will primarily originate from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Lee Echerd, senior mission manager of Human Spaceflight Mission Management at SpaceX, stated that this shift will allow the Cape team to concentrate resources on preparing LC-39A for Falcon Heavy and Starship operations. SpaceX has been steadily improving the turnaround time at Pad 40, now able to reconfigure the pad for a new launch in under 48 hours.
The change comes after a period of intense launch activity. SpaceX completed 165 Falcon vehicle launches overall in , though not all from LC-39A. The most recent Falcon 9 flight from the pad was on . Pad 40 has historically been the primary launch site for the Falcon 9, serving as a complement to 39A’s role in crewed missions and augmenting SpaceX’s overall launch cadence.
However, the increasing focus on Starship suggests a potential peak in the Falcon 9 launch rate. As Starship development progresses, launch operations may necessitate temporary closures of LC-39A to personnel, further solidifying the rationale for concentrating Falcon 9 launches at Pad 40. Gerstenmaier noted that the bearing repairs are being addressed “in the environment on the ground,” with upgrades planned to ensure readiness for future crewed missions if required.
The removal of the CAA represents more than just a logistical adjustment. it symbolizes a turning point in SpaceX’s launch strategy. The company is clearly prioritizing the development and deployment of Starship, a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to destinations throughout the solar system. While SpaceX retains the flexibility to reinstate crewed launches from 39A, the current trajectory points towards a future where the historic launchpad plays a central role in the next generation of space exploration.
