SpaceX already holds the record for the most successful rocket launches of any private company, and soon it could ramp up its launch tempo even further.
The company is one step closer to getting approval for increased Starship launches and landings at its Starbase launch facility in Boca Chica, TX, according to the FAA’s Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment released on Monday.
In 2022, the FAA led an Environmental Assessment (EA) for SpaceX’s initial Starship and Super Heavy launch operations at Starbase, which concluded that the rocket did not pose a significant threat to the climate and community surrounding Starbase.
The proposal: Since then, however, a lot has changed, including future plans for Starship, which SpaceX unveiled this year:
- A bigger ship: SpaceX plans to increase the size of the Starship from 50 m to 70 m, and Super Heavy from 71 m to 80 m. The upgraded Starship will stand 150 m tall.
- More power: To get the larger spacecraft into orbit, SpaceX will more than double the amount of thrust for Starship, and increase Super Heavy’s thrust by nearly 40%.
- More fuel: The volume of fuel needed per launch is expected to increase from 5,200 metric tons in the original design to 6,750 metric tons in the upgraded version.
- More launches: If approved, SpaceX would up the number of Starship launches from five to as many as 25 each year. Meanwhile, the number of landings will go from a total of 15 to 50 (25 each for Starship and Super Heavy).
While SpaceX’s proposal represents a significant increase in the amount of rocket traffic above Boca Chica, the FAA determined that the resulting impact to the surrounding environment and community should be minimal.
The impact: The assessment examined a few potential environmental impacts, including:
- Air quality, climate, noise, and visual impacts: While launches, engine tests, and construction produce emissions, noise, and light, the assessment found that the short-term nature of these activities would not exceed national standards nor impose a significant cumulative impact on the surrounding area.
- Water and biological resources: The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is considering the installation of a water line from Brownsville to Boca Chica, which would reduce the number of trucks transporting water to the area and have a beneficial effect on the local wildlife.
- Natural resources and energy supply: Studies show that energy and resource providers would be able to support the increase in consumption caused by additional facilities required under the SpaceX proposal.
- Road closures: Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Starbase for the local community has been the number of road closures on State Highway 4. By moving most of its testing to the Massey Test Site—four miles away—SpaceX expects the total hours of road closures would remain unchanged at 500 hours per year, or 20 hours per launch.
The FAA opened the floor for public comments through the end of August, at which point it will prepare to publish the final Environmental Assessment and make its determination.
