Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Payload User's Guide - SpaceX

3. Facilities Overview
Falcon 9 User’s Guide
3.1. Headquarters – Hawthorne, CA
SpaceX headquarters are conveniently located in Hawthorne, CA, a few miles inland from Los
Angeles International Airport (LAX). The 550,000+ square foot (5.1 hectares) design and
manufacturing facility ranks among the largest manufacturing facilities in California. Two
complete Falcon 9s will fit end‐to‐end along the short length of the building. For production,
there are three Falcon 1 lines, three parallel Falcon 9 lines, nearly two dozen Merlin engine
assembly stations, and Dragon capsule production areas. Potential customers are encouraged
to arrange a tour when in the Los Angeles area. Map and Directions.
Figure 3‐1‐ Hawthorne, California Headquarters
3.2. Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
SpaceX has a Falcon 9 launch site on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The launch site
is Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC‐40), former home of the Titan IV heavy lift rockets. SpaceX
facilities at SLC‐40 include a hangar, propellant/pressurant storage and supply areas, launch
pad, and lightning towers. Adjacent to the launch complex is the SpaceX administrative office
facility. SpaceX launch operations are managed from the Launch Control Center, located at the
south entrance to CCAFS. A general layout of the launch facilities is presented in the following
figures.
Figure 3‐2 ‐ Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Florida
SCM 2008‐010 Rev. 1 Copyright ‐‐ SpaceX 2009 12