39A CAA removed, ending crew launch from historic site, for now

Date:
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:20:15 +0000

Description:
SpaceX has begun dismantling key infrastructure at Launch Complex 39A
(LC-39A) at NASAs Kennedy Space The post 39A CAA removed, ending crew launch from historic site, for now appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

FULL STORY ======================================================================

SpaceX has begun dismantling key infrastructure at Launch Complex 39A
(LC-39A) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant shift in its Florida launch operations.



The companys Crew Access Arm (CAA), installed in the summer of 2018 and first used for crewed missions less than six years ago, was removed this week using a heavy crane. The move effectively takes LC-39A offline for human
spaceflight missions involving Crew Dragon spacecraft.

However, there is a possibility that if it is required, the arm could return. Also, Its awesome to see Dragon 2 consistently launching from Pad 40. While the crew arm has come down at 39A for maintenance and to clear the way for Falcon Heavy and Starship, well maintain the capability to call up Crew missions at 39A if needed.

Kiko Dontchev (@TurkeyBeaver) February 9, 2026



The removal follows a noticeable pause in launches from the historic pad. The most recent Falcon 9 flight from LC-39A occurred on December 17, 2025, a departure from the sites intense activity in 2025, when Falcon vehicles launched 165 times overall (though not all from 39A).

SpaceX Senior Mission Manager for Human Spaceflight Mission Management Lee Echerd addressed the change last week, explaining the companys forward manifest strategy.

Its great to have two launch pads off the Florida coast. For our manifest going forward, were planning to launch most of our Falcon 9 launches off of Space Launch Complex-40. That will include all Dragon missions going forward, noted Echerd.

That will allow our Cape team to focus 39A on Falcon Heavy launches, and hopefully our first Starship launches later this year.

The decision to consolidate Dragon missionsboth crewed and cargoat Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) aligns with the pads more modern crew-support infrastructure. SLC-40s launch tower and Crew Access Arm were constructed in 2023, incorporating lessons from five years of operations at LC-39A. Notable upgrades include a deployable slide for pad evacuation, replacing the slidewire baskets still in use at LC-39A and nearby LC-39B.

SLC-40 originally served as Falcon 9s primary pad and hosted early Dragon cargo flights. Its transition to full crew capability began with a demonstration cargo mission (Commercial Resupply Services-30) and culminated in Crew-9 becoming the first crewed Commercial Crew flight from the
sitethough that mission is better remembered as the Rescue Mission for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams following issues with Boeings Starliner.

The upgrades to SLC-40 were initially driven by concerns over potential disruptions at LC-39A from Starship development risks.

We are continuing to follow the activities at Pad 39A relative to Starship, added Steve Stitch, program manager for NASAs Commercial Crew Program in
2022, outlining the path that has now become a reality.

We are looking at options to have a crew capability at 40, and well start likely with a cargo capability. SpaceX is laying out a plan to go outfit a
Pad 40 for crew and cargo, and that work is transpiring, and were following that in commercial crew program.

LC-39As Fixed Service Structure incorporates legacy elements from the Space Shuttle and Apollo eras, including repurposed components from Mobile Launcher 2s Launch Umbilical Tower. In contrast, SLC-40s newer setup offers
operational advantages for routine Dragon flights.

The removal of the Crew Access Armlifted out after crane operations beginning Tuesday night and concluding around noon the following daysupports SpaceXs broader pivot to Starship.

The company plans up to five Starship launch pads, with Starbase in Texas focused on R&D and the Space Coast (including LC-39A, SLC-37, and others) serving as the operational hub.

Preparations at LC-39A for Starship, including infrastructure like the Ship Quick Disconnect arm, are advancing, allowing teams to concentrate on that work with fewer interruptions from frequent Falcon 9 activity. While Falcon Heavy launches will continue from LC-39A, crewed Dragon flights from the pad appear unlikely in the near term. Starship remains far from human-rating certification, and the companys long-term vision emphasizes larger vehicles capable of supporting multi-planetary goals over Dragons four-person
capacity.

Dragons future beyond the International Space Stations planned 2030
retirement remains tied to emerging private space stations like Vasts
Haven-2, Axiom Station, Starlab, and Orbital Reef.

With limited alternativesBoeings Starliner facing challenges and other vehicles like potential Blue Origin designs still undevelopedDragon is expected to continue operations for resupply and crew transport in the interim.

The Crew Access Arms white room, where astronauts boarded Dragon, bears signatures from numerous crews alongside NASA and SpaceX logos. It is hoped and expected that elements like this historic wall might be preserved,
perhaps for display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. However,
with the confirmation the arm could be reinstalled at some point, its likely it will be held in storage at a SpaceX facility.

Lead photo: Jacques van Oene with permission.

The post 39A CAA removed, ending crew launch from historic site, for now appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



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Link to news story: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/02/39a-caa-removed-future-starship/


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