FAA Authorizes Additional Starship Launches from Starbase
Could Launch as Many as 25 Times per Year From South Texas
The FAA has released its Final Tiered Environmental Assessment authorizing SpaceX to conduct as many as 25 Starship launches per year from Starbase in Boca Chica.
The Revised Final EA evaluates two alternatives in detail: the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.
The Proposed Action alternative would modify SpaceX’s existing vehicle operator license to authorize the company's proposed action to increase the cadence of the Starship/Super Heavy launch program at the Boca Chica vertical launch area (VLA) in Cameron County, Texas to up to 25 annual launches and 50 total annual landings (25 of the Starship and 25 of the Super Heavy) and make vehicle and operational upgrades. Up to three launches (of the total 25) would occur during nighttime hours from the VLA.
Landings at the VLA would only take place during the daytime, with up to 22 Starship and 22 Super Heavy landings at the VLA. Daytime landings of either vehicle may also take place offshore as well. Up to three landings of Starship and three landings of Super Heavy may occur at night, only offshore. SpaceX would also conduct up to 90 seconds of licensed daytime Starship static fire tests and 70 seconds of licensed daytime Super Heavy static fire tests a year. The federal action also includes the FAA’s issuance of temporary airspace closures.
The following aspects of SpaceX’s operations remain unchanged and are assessed by the existing environmental documentation supporting the program:
Pre-flight Operations
Nominal Operational Access Restrictions
Personnel Levels
Anomalies
The FAA’s authority under the Commercial Space Launch Act only extends to licensed launch activities. Additional activities in and around the Boca Chica Launch Site, such as production and manufacturing, engine, stage, and tank testing that are not within the scope of the license and will occur regardless of whether a license is issued are not included in the analysis. The effects of such activities are considered as part of the environmental baseline and in conjunction with the effects of the Proposed Action.