Starbase’s Space Makeover: Old Platform’s Farewell to ‘Stool Era’

At Starbase, another significant phase of dismantling the old infrastructure has been completed: workers have demolished the last support structure of the OLM-A platform. This element, unofficially nicknamed the “space stool,” served as part of the launch table in recent years, but with SpaceX transitioning to the new generation of Starship, it became unnecessary. The disassembly of the supports took several days, with machinery having to break down the concrete columns holding the structure one by one. Now, the team will clear the perimeter to make room for new engineering nodes that will be used in subsequent tests of Super Heavy and Starship.

Following the destruction of Booster 18, which was supposed to be the debut Super Heavy booster for the new generation of Starship, another aerial photo has emerged showing the scale of the damage.

An important development for SpaceX has been the shift towards upgrading their infrastructure to support a new phase of testing and operations. The removal of outdated platforms and the preparation for new technology indicates an ongoing commitment to innovating and optimizing the launch process. Upcoming tests of both Super Heavy and Starship will likely feature advancements in engineering that aim to improve efficiency and reliability in space missions.

This change is also a precursor to SpaceX’s vision of making space travel more accessible and reducing the cost per launch through reusable rockets. As these new systems come online, industry experts anticipate a significant impact on both current and future aerospace projects.