When you think of shuttles and rockets being launched into space, Kennedy Space Center probably comes to mind. After all, some of the most important expeditions, including the Apollo program, took off from the center’s own Launch Complex (LC) 39A. In 2014, Kennedy Space Center signed a deal with SpaceX, making it a tenant and giving it permission to use its launch pad to launch rockets into orbit. However, the partnership appears to have been put on hold as SpaceX prepares for the next phase of its space launch operations.

At a press conference before the SpaceX Crew-12 launch in February 2026, senior mission manager Lee Echard said the company plans to reserve LC 39A for “Falcon Heavy launches and, hopefully, the first Starship launches later this year.” To be clear, SpaceX has launched Starship rockets before, but all of them were test flights from SpaceX’s own facility in Texas, some of which have ended. Explosive failure that caused serious safety problems for airlines. However, SpaceX engineers have reportedly solved one of the biggest challenges: reentry. Differences between Starship V2 and Starship V1.

Echard’s comments follow an earlier statement from Kiko Donchev, SpaceX’s vice president of launch. December 2025, Donchev Published in X The plan is to move most Falcon 9 launches to Space Launch Complex (SLC) 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station instead of using 39A. however, Federal Aviation Administration According to its website, SpaceX plans to install new infrastructure on LC 39A to support Starship Super Heavy launches. However, the company will need to “change new or existing vehicle operating licenses” before proceeding.

Although Kiko Donchev’s statement focused on moving Falcon 9 launches to SLC 40, the organization is using that platform for other purposes. Lee Echard said at a press conference that future Falcon 9 and all future Dragon missions will be launched into space from SLC 40. But this decision did not just come out of left field.

SpaceX began modifying SLC 40 to support the crewed Dragon mission in 2023, with work completed in 2024. In fact, most launches in the near future (using Falcon 9s) will be launched into space from SLC 40. And while SpaceX has used both LC 39A and SLC 40 for launches over the years, December 17, 2025 will be the last SpaceX mission to take off from LC. 39A for now. The next SpaceX mission scheduled to use the LC 39A is tentatively scheduled for a July 2026 Falcon Heavy launch. The rocket will carry the Astrobotic Griffin lander and a smaller, more advanced version of the FLIP lunar rover. innovative flex rover. After that, we may not see an LC 39A launch from SpaceX for some time.