SpaceX will have to clear another regulatory hurdle before ramping up work with its Starship megarocket on Florida's Space Coast. concluded that Starship operations at KSC wouldn't significantly affect the surrounding ecosystem. However, SpaceX's plans for the site have changed since then, and a more in-depth review — an environmental impact statement — is therefore now in order, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced today .
"While the 2019 EA prepared by NASA provides an analytical baseline, the environmental impacts of these proposed changes to Starship-Super Heavy LC-39A development and operations will be specifically analyzed in this EIS," FAA officials wrote in aStarship consists of two elements, both of which are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable — a giant first-stage booster called Super Heavy and a 165-foot-tall upper stage known as Starship, or simply"Ship.
Proposed Starship activities at LC-39A that were examined by the 2019 EA involved infrastructure development, as well as approximately 24 launches per year, FAA officials explained. "SpaceX now proposes to construct additional launch infrastructure not previously contemplated in the 2019 EA; launch an advanced design of the Starship and Super Heavy vehicle; operate at a projected higher launch tempo; and land the Super Heavy booster at LC-39A in support of the reusability concept.
A positive result on the EIS would not clear SpaceX to start launching Starship from KSC, by the way; the company would still need to obtain a vehicle operator's license from the FAA.to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat.