Results to Determine Approval for Additional Starship Launches

On November 20, the Federal Aviation Administration released a new draft of its SpaceX Starship environmental assessment. This analyzed the impact of up to 25 Starship and Super Heavy booster takeoffs/landings to determine whether or not the launch frequency can be increased moving forward.

This update opened a public comment period that will remain accessible until January 17. The agency will also be hosting five meetings, four in-person in Texas and one virtual, throughout January to further gauge public opinion. Once these are completed and reviewed, the FAA will make its final decision.

Previously, the FAA intended to begin public hearings in August using an earlier draft. However, these were postponed because “the FAA is seeking additional information from SpaceX before rescheduling the public meetings,” it said. Later, it was revealed that the delay was due to SpaceX’s alleged violations of the Clean Water Act involving its water deluge system on the launch pad.

The most recent environmental assessment draft did not include a formal statement expressing the FAA’s opinion on the potential increase in Starship launch frequency. However, it seemed to find no significant issues with it.

“The FAA has concluded that the modification of SpaceX’s existing vehicle operator license for Starship/Super Heavy operations conforms to the prior environmental documentation, consistent with the data contained in the 2022 PEA [Programmatic Environmental Assessment], that there are no significant environmental changes, and all pertinent conditions and requirements of the prior approval have been met or will be met in the current action,” the review stated.

SpaceX is currently permitted to perform up to five launches of its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster annually. The manufacturer has used four of these as of November 19.

The launches are held at SpaceX’s Starbase test facility at Boca Chica, Texas.

FMI: www.spacex.com