During the broadcast of SpaceX’s November test launch, Flight 6, it was revealed that SpaceX is in the final stages of constructing a massive 1 million-square-foot facility in South Texas known as the 'Starfactory.' The purpose of this facility is to enable the production of 'hundreds of ships per year,' according to SpaceX engineers.
SpaceX's ambitious plans include the need for a substantial fleet of Super Heavy boosters and an even larger number of Starship spacecraft. The Starship vehicles are intended for long-duration missions to destinations such as the moon and Mars, as well as serving as tankers for refueling operations in space. In contrast, the boosters will be designed to return to Earth and be quickly prepared for the next launch.
Despite the scale of production envisioned, SpaceX engineers acknowledged that the production cadence they are aiming for may seem unconventional. The company is known for maintaining a collection of rockets at its South Texas facilities, with the area often filled with Starships and Super Heavy boosters awaiting their next missions.
SpaceX has confirmed that it is already prepared for another flight test, with both the ship and booster for Starship's eighth flight test completed and undergoing prelaunch testing. This rapid development process is part of SpaceX's goal to establish a fully reusable space transportation system that can be deployed efficiently and frequently.
