▁initially ▁le asing ▁ ▁from ▁the ▁Port ▁of ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁on ▁the ▁island ▁at ▁Ber th ▁ 2 4 0 . ▁They ▁will ▁ref urb ish ▁five ▁buildings ▁and ▁raise ▁a ▁tent - like ▁structure ▁for ▁research , ▁design , ▁and ▁manufact uring . ▁Space X ▁has ▁been ▁building ▁and ▁testing ▁its ▁planned ▁Star ship ▁cre wed ▁space ▁transport ation ▁system ▁intended ▁for ▁sub orb ital , ▁orb ital ▁and ▁inter plan et ary ▁flight ▁in ▁Texas . ▁ ▁The ▁new ▁Space X ▁ro cket , ▁too ▁large ▁to ▁be ▁transport ed ▁for ▁long ▁distances ▁over land , ▁will ▁be ▁sh ipped ▁to ▁the ▁company ' s ▁launch ▁area ▁in ▁Florida ▁or ▁Texas ▁by ▁sea , ▁via ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal . ▁The ▁ ▁site ▁was ▁used ▁for ▁ship building ▁from ▁ 1 9 1 8 , ▁and ▁was ▁formerly ▁operated ▁by ▁the ▁Beth le hem ▁Sh ip building ▁Corporation ▁and ▁then ▁the ▁South west ▁Marine ▁Sh ip yard . ▁The ▁location ▁has ▁been ▁dis used ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁ ▁Br id ges ▁ ▁Terminal ▁Island ▁is ▁connected ▁to ▁the ▁main land ▁via ▁four ▁brid ges . ▁To ▁the ▁west , ▁the ▁distinct ive ▁green ▁Vincent ▁Thomas ▁Bridge , ▁the ▁fourth - long est ▁susp ension ▁bridge ▁in ▁California , ▁connect s ▁it ▁with ▁the ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁neighborhood ▁of ▁San ▁Pedro . ▁The ▁Ger ald ▁Des mond ▁Bridge ▁connect s ▁the ▁island ▁with ▁dow nt own ▁Long ▁Beach ▁to ▁the ▁east . ▁The ▁Com mod ore ▁Sch uy ler