# SpaceX’s Starship Initiative Gains Traction: FAA Endorses Broadened Launch Activities
On November 19, 2024, SpaceX’s Starship craft soared into the air for its sixth journey, representing another achievement in the firm’s bold space exploration ambitions. Just 24 hours later, SpaceX was met with more positive news from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which could greatly enhance its forthcoming operations at the Starbase site in South Texas. A preliminary draft of an “Environmental Assessment” issued by the FAA indicates that SpaceX is likely to obtain authorization to raise the number of Starship launches from five to 25 annually, as well as permission to augment the size and strength of its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage.
This advance marks a significant leap for SpaceX, which has been striving to expand its operations while advancing the frontiers of space exploration and reusable rocket technology.
## FAA’s Environmental Evaluation: A Green Signal for Growth
The FAA’s environmental review is a pivotal component in the regulatory framework that oversees rocket launches throughout the United States. The bureau is charged with safeguarding the safety of individuals and properties on land, in addition to evaluating the environmental ramifications of launch operations. In its preliminary evaluation, the FAA deduced that SpaceX’s aspirations for broadening its activities at Starbase align with the previous environmental assessments established in 2022.
The FAA remarked, “All relevant conditions and stipulations of the earlier approval have been fulfilled or will be fulfilled in the current endeavor.” This implies that SpaceX has effectively complied with the environmental mitigations specified in the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), enabling the firm to advance with its strategy to markedly raise its launch frequency.
### What Lies Ahead?
Although the FAA’s draft assessment is an encouraging indicator for SpaceX, the process remains in its preliminary stages. The FAA is set to initiate a public commentary phase, allowing stakeholders and the surrounding community to share their opinions until January 17, 2025. Additionally, five public forums will be organized to collect insights from various factions.
The 158-page document offers an extensive analysis of the possible environmental effects stemming from SpaceX’s augmented operations, addressing aspects such as air quality, climate, water, noise, wildlife, and cultural assets. In every category, the FAA concluded that the mitigations enacted by SpaceX during the 2022 review are adequate to support the heightened activity at Starbase.
### Escalated Truck Traffic and Road Closures
One of the most noteworthy effects of the expanded operations will be the anticipated rise in truck traffic to and from the Starbase facility. The FAA report predicts that the number of large trucks transporting essential supplies, including water, liquid oxygen, and methane, is set to grow from 6,000 per year to nearly 24,000 annually. This surge could potentially be alleviated by establishing a water line along State Highway 4 to service the launch site’s water deluge system, utilized to cool the launch platform during rocket launches.
SpaceX has already implemented measures to lessen the impact of its operations on the local populace. For instance, the company has substantially cut the duration of road closures along State Highway 4, which connects to Boca Chica Beach. Between the initial and third Starship flights, the length of these closures shrank by 85 percent. This was accomplished by relocating certain launch preparation tasks to the “Massey’s Test Site,” situated approximately four miles from the launch pad. SpaceX now anticipates needing less than 20 hours of road closures per launch campaign, including landings.
## SpaceX’s Bold Vision for 2025 and Beyond
Should the FAA’s environmental assessment be finalized as anticipated, SpaceX will possess the regulatory clearance needed to escalate its launch operations in 2025. During recent public meetings, Kathy Lueders, SpaceX’s general manager at Starbase, expressed that the company aims to execute 25 Starship launches next year from its Texan facility. The new regulations would facilitate SpaceX in realizing this goal.
Moreover, SpaceX founder Elon Musk has disclosed intentions to bring forth a more powerful variant of the Starship and Super Heavy rocket, referred to as “Starship 3,” within the next year. This upgraded iteration would double the thrust of the Starship upper stage and boost the thrust of the Super Heavy booster from 74 meganewtons to roughly 100 meganewtons. To provide context, the thrust at launch would be triple that of NASA’s Saturn V rocket, which famously propelled astronauts to the Moon.
The FAA’s draft environmental assessment further permits SpaceX to recover all 25 of the first and second stages back at the Starbase site. While SpaceX aborted an attempt to “catch” the Super Heavy booster during the November 19 flight, the company has already showcased its capacity to retrieve the booster. Musk has also suggested that a Starship upper stage recovery attempt could be on the horizon, following another ocean landing.
## Political Ramifications
