SpaceX will have to wait at least a month longer to move forward with plans of expanding at Port Canaveral..

SpaceX wants to build new facilities at Port Canaveral

SpaceX wants to take over the SpaceHab building



Commissioners will consider the plan at Wednesday's meeting

At the Port Canaveral Commission meeting Wednesday morning, port leaders postponed a vote to approve a lease agreement with SpaceX.

The rocket company is aiming to take over new facilities at Port Canaveral to store and work on its first stage boosters after they return from launch. Port Canaveral Commissioners on Wednesday were going to decide if SpaceX can take over the former SpaceHab building to refurbish and process rockets.

One commissioner called the postponement disappointing, but port leaders said SpaceX has a temporary use permit to use the existing hangar for their use.

They say they're still working on the lease agreement and SpaceX will have to wait until next month’s port meeting before they can expand any more at the port.

SpaceX had hopes that the commissioners would have voted on Wednesday.



“With SpaceX’s recent progress in recovering first stage Falcon 9 boosters, we’re looking to expand our facilities on the Space Coast to support rocket refurbishment,” SpaceX’s Phil Larson said in a statement before the meeting. “We appreciate the Port's partnership in our recovery efforts to date and continue to discuss further opportunities at Port Canaveral.”

During successful landing at sea attempts, the first stage booster lands on a flat, unmanned ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

The rocket and ship then travel to Port Canaveral where it can be readied for another launch.

The building is 53,360 square feet and in addition the company has plans to build another 44,000 square foot hangar building right next door.

SpaceX also plans to build a road, so that once its rocket returns to the cargo pier, it can easily be transported to the new facilities.

This is another setback for SpaceX. The company’s rockets are still grounded after a launch pad explosion in September. The company had hoped to begin launches this month, but no launch date has been announced.

