{"id":9750,"date":"2025-09-12T20:31:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T12:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/department-of-the-air-force-faa-clear-spacex-to-launch-up-to-120-falcon-9-rockets-annually-from-cape-canaveral\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T20:31:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T12:31:20","slug":"department-of-the-air-force-faa-clear-spacex-to-launch-up-to-120-falcon-9-rockets-annually-from-cape-canaveral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/department-of-the-air-force-faa-clear-spacex-to-launch-up-to-120-falcon-9-rockets-annually-from-cape-canaveral\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of the Air Force, FAA clear SpaceX to launch up to 120 Falcon 9 rockets annually from Cape Canaveral"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) for the first time on the Crew-9 mission. Image: Michael Cain\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of the Air Force gave the green light for SpaceX to more than double its launch cadence from its workhorse launch pad in Florida and construct a new landing zone for its Falcon rocket boosters.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 3, the FAA published documents <\/strong><\/span>supporting SpaceX\u2019s proposal to launch up to 120 times using its Falcon 9 rocket at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It also gave the environmental thumbs up for SpaceX\u2019s plan to construct a new landing zone adjacent to its launch pad.<\/p>\n

The FAA issued a 21-page document called a Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI\/ROD) along with its 122-page (not including appendices) Final Environmental Assessment (EA). These came after months of analysis and more than 4,200 public comments were evaluated.<\/p>\n

The assessment was done in order to comply with a federal law called the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA<\/strong><\/span>) along with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures<\/i>.<\/p>\n

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A map of NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station highlighting the location of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). Graphic: FAA \/ SpaceX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAfter reviewing and analyzing this EA, including all available data and information on existing conditions and potential impacts, the FAA has determined that the modification of SpaceX\u2019s license, as well as issuing a new license under 14 CFR (Cod of Federal Regulations) Part 450 along with potential future renewals and modifications to the license, to increase the annual number of Falcon 9 launches and the construction and operation of a Falcon 9 [landing zone] at SLC-40 would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA,\u201d wrote Stacey Molinich Zee, manager of the Operations Support Branch within the FAA.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required, and the FAA is independently issuing this Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision (ROD),\u201d Zee added. \u201cThe FAA has made this determination in accordance with applicable environmental laws and FAA procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the Environmental Protection Agency <\/strong><\/span>(EPA), an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has more \u201cdetailed and rigorous\u201d regulatory requirements attached and is used in cases where \u201ca proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DAF, NASA and the FAA are currently working through the EIS process when it comes to bringing SpaceX\u2019s massive Starship rocket to Florida for static fires, launch and landings from both Launch Complex 39A and Space Launch Complex 37. Public comment<\/strong><\/span> regarding the LC-39A Starship proposal is open through Sept. 22.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 3, the DAF also issued its own FONSI along with a Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA). U.S. Air Force Col. Marcia Quigley, director of Space Force Mission Sustainment, said in her evaluation of the EA that SpaceX\u2019s proposal for SLC-40 would not only not have a \u201csignificant effect on the quality of the human environment,\u201d but also it \u201cwould support future U.S. Government and commercial missions which require or would benefit from a Falcon 9 vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Proposed Action is needed to meet current and anticipated near-term future U.S. Government launch requirements for national security, space exploration, science, and the Assured Access to Space process of the National Security Space Launch program,\u201d Quigley wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cPublic interests largely intersect with the government interests identified, including greater mission capability for space exploration, and advancing reliable and affordable access to space which in turn advances the scientific and national security benefits of the U.S. space program as a whole,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

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A Falcon 9 rocket supporting the USSF-124 mission for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) launches from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: Adam Bernstein\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Approved, with caveats<\/h4>\n

The draft version of the EA was published for public review and comment back on March 14, 2025. That led to a virtual, public meeting on the proposal on May 8.<\/p>\n

After months of analyzing the comments and providing a list of answers to the concerns raised from the public (as seen within Appendix E<\/strong><\/span>) the Final EA was ready for publication this week. However, it does come with some key conditions and mitigation measures for SpaceX.<\/p>\n

Some of those include minimizing driving in off-road scenarios as much as possible to avoid injuring or killing eastern indigo snakes, allowing prescribed burns to take place in the areas around SLC-40 and minimizing year-round lighting to minimize the potential impacts on nesting and\/or hatching sea turtles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn updated SLC-40 Light Management Plan incorporating the additional launch cadence, new facilities and LZ-X operations will be provided to SLD 45 Environmental and the Service for review prior to the increase in launch cadence and use of LZ-X,\u201d the FONSI\/ROD states. \u201cA full review by the [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  <\/span>(USFWS)] will be completed within 30 days of receiving the updated Light Management Plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

SpaceX is also required to conduct various species monitoring for creatures like sea turtles, the Florida scrub-jay and the southeastern beach mouse. Part of that includes reporting any \u201cdead, injured, or sick threatened or endangered species\u201d to the USFWS.<\/p>\n

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With 24 miles of pristine beach, Canaveral National Seashore is prime nesting habitat for many threatened and endangered sea turtles. For the 2023 nesting season, 1,665 nests have been recorded. #WorldSeaTurtleDay #ESA50 \"\ud83d\udc22\"<\/p>\n

Video by Joe Griffith \/ NPS pic.twitter.com\/XjRAFumCoN<\/p>\n

\u2014 US Department of the Interior (@Interior) June 16, 2023<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n