In between Starlink launches, SpaceX installed its brand recent Crew Access Arm on the recently built Crew Launch Tower at Space Launch Complex 40.
To assist with its ever-increasing launch cadence, SpaceX built a brand new Crew Launch Tower at Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida to take pressure off Launch Complex 39A, which is currently the one launch pad in america actively launching astronauts into orbit.
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Last nights Starlink launch following installation of the brand recent Crew Access Arm (Credit SpaceX)
Even while under construction, it still hasn’t slowed the pace of missions from SLC 40 with it being the world’s busiest launch site. Last night’s launch brought the yearly total to 46 launches from this pad alone.
Originally, the primary missions to make the most of this recent infrastructure were going to be resupply missions to the International Space Station, but taking a look at the upcoming launch manifest for LC-39A, the schedule is fairly busy with CRS 29 launching as soon as this Thursday followed by a Falcon Heavy mission early to mid-December which is a decent turnaround time to modify the pad configuration from Falcon 9 to Falcon Heavy and back.
The Falcon Heavy launch will probably be followed up by a lunar mission NET January 12, 2024. The mission, Intuitive Machines lunar lander Nova C, will need a singular capability only available at LC-39A which SpaceX recently made upgrades to permit the fueling of liquid methane to the payload to make sure the lander has loads of fuel for its trip to the Moon.
With the log jam at LC-39A, SpaceX is prone to use SLC-40 for the Axiom 3 mission which can also be scheduled for early January 2024 and it could make it the primary crewed launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in over 5 many years when it was then referred to as Cape Kennedy.
These additional capabilities will probably be vital for SpaceX to assist them achieve their goal of over 100 launches in 2024.