SpaceX Demolishes Starfactory Corner to Make Way for Gigabay Expansion in Starbase
image courtesy: LabPadre
STARBASE, Texas — SpaceX has begun demolishing a section of its Starfactory facility in Starbase, Texas, to clear space for the construction of a massive new Gigabay, a move that underscores the company’s ambitious plans to scale up Starship production. The demolition, which started in recent weeks, has been a topic of discussion among space enthusiasts on X, with posts like those from @NASASpaceflight on May 11, 2025, noting that “a hefty part of Starfactory just timbered at Starbase” to accommodate the new structure.
The Starfactory, a key manufacturing hub for SpaceX’s Starship program, has been pivotal in producing components for the reusable rocket system. However, the facility’s layout is being reconfigured to integrate with the Gigabay, a 46.5-million-cubic-foot vertical integration and assembly facility designed to support the production and refurbishment of Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. According to a NASASpaceFlight.com report from April 20, 2025, the demolition of the “Starfactory wedge” is the final step before the concrete entrance to the ringyard is removed, paving the way for the Gigabay to sit flush with the factory wall. This direct connection is expected to streamline the production line by allowing seamless movement of Starship segments between the two facilities.
SpaceX’s decision to expand comes as the company ramps up its Starship program, with plans to produce up to 365 ships per year, as reported by NextBigFuture.com on March 26, 2025. The Gigabay, which will feature 24 work cells and cranes capable of lifting 400 US tons, is set to more than double Starbase’s current workstation capacity. This expansion aligns with SpaceX’s broader strategy to establish Starbase as a fully-fledged city, a vision realized earlier this month when residents voted overwhelmingly to incorporate the area as Starbase, Texas, with 212 votes in favor and only six against, per Yahoo Finance on May 4, 2025.
The demolition has sparked mixed reactions. While some see it as a necessary step for progress, others lament the loss of iconic views of the Starbase production site, as noted by @FelixSchlang on X on April 29, 2025. Additionally, the move raises questions about the balance between rapid expansion and operational efficiency, especially as SpaceX simultaneously develops a second Gigabay at Roberts Road in Florida, which will be 50% larger than the Texas Starfactory, according to Tesla Oracle on April 21, 2025.
As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of spaceflight, the Starfactory demolition and Gigabay construction signal a new chapter for Starbase—one where innovation and scale take center stage, but not without trade-offs for the community and landscape that have defined the site’s early years.