[cortesoft]

I mean, was the alternative to construct them on site? Is that what would have happened if not for the political pressure? It seems likely that they would have been manufactured SOMEWHERE requiring transport, no matter what.

[erik_seaberg]

Could have used a ship; that's how they delivered the larger Saturn V stages from New Orleans and Seal Beach to Cape Kennedy.

[Rebelgecko]

Would not be practical for a Vandenberg launch (which was a shuttle requirement that was never taken advantage of)

[0xffff2]

To clarify, there are many places where the boosters could have been manufactured and transported by ship. The shuttle SRB's where manufactured in Utah, where transportation by ship is impractical.

[Symmetry]

For example, SpaceX builds all their rockets in LA and transports them by truck to the launch site. With their next, bigger, rocket they'll send them by ship.

Blue Origin is planning to build their big rockets in Florida near the launch site.