FAA releases Starship assessment; reschedules public meetings for January

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced the availability of a Revised Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (EA) for SpaceX’s proposal to substantially increase the number of launches and landings of Starship and Super Heavy each year at the company’s Boca Chica rocket manufacturing and testing complex.

The FAA also announced rescheduled public meetings to gather input on the Draft EA.

Specifically, the Draft EA examines SpaceX’s proposal to conduct up to 25 launches per year from Boca Chica. This would entail up 25 landings of the second-stage Starship and the same number of landings of the first-stage Super Heavy booster at Boca Chica. The document also addresses “vehicle upgrades,” according to the FAA.

On Tuesday, with President-elect Donald Trump in attendance with SpaceX owner Elon Musk, the company’s conducted its sixth flight at Starbase at Boca Chica Beach, successfully launching its Starship Super Heavy.

Spectators watch from Texas State Highway 48 as SpaceX’s Starship launches on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at Starbase at Boca Chica Beach. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

Unlike its Oct. 13 launch, SpaceX was unable to catch the booster and instead diverted it into the Gulf of Mexico. Starship, however, successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean following an approximately one-hour flight.

The public meetings are scheduled for Jan. 7, 1-3 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m., at Texas Southmost College, Jacob Brown Auditorium, 600 International Blvd., in Brownsville; and Jan. 9, 1-3 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m., at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, Queen Isabella Room, 309 E. Railroad Ave.

A virtual public meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13, 5:30-7 p.m. To register, go to us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6f5su5mtTne_vBr8MqJOLA.

The toll-free dial-in number for the virtual meeting is (888) 0099. Webinar ID is 879 9253 6128. Pass code is 900729.

The Draft EA and instruction on how to submit comments can be found at www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship. The FAA said it is soliciting feedback from all interested parties.

Anyone who needs additional translation services or other accommodations should submit a request by Dec. 16 to SpaceXBocaChica@icf.com.

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