SpaceX proposes to conduct Starship/Super Heavy launch operations from the Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas. SpaceX must apply for and obtain an experimental permit(s) and/or a vehicle operator license from the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation to operate the Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle. The FAA's evaluation of a permit or license application includes a review of 1) public safety issues (such as overflight of populated areas and payload contents); 2) national security or foreign policy concerns; 3) insurance requirements for the launch operator; and 4) potential environmental impact. Read more about the history of the Boca Chica launch site and the location of the launch site.

FAA

The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, as amended and codified at 51 U.S.C. §§ 50901-50923, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to oversee, license, and regulate commercial launch and reentry activities, and the operation of launch and reentry sites within the United States or as carried out by U.S. citizens elsewhere. Section 50905 directs the Secretary to exercise this responsibility consistent with public health and safety, safety of property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States. In addition, Section 50903 requires the Secretary to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector. As codified at 49 CFR § 1.83(b), the Secretary has delegated authority to carry out these functions to the FAA Administrator.

For more information, read more about the License Review Process and the Environmental Review Process.

SpaceX

Founded in 2002, SpaceX is a commercial space transportation company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX developed the Falcon 1 (no longer operational), Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy vertical orbital launch vehicles, all of which were built with the goal of becoming reusable launch vehicles. SpaceX launches commercial and government payloads, including the Dragon spacecraft, which is used to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station and bring them back to Earth. SpaceX is developing a new rocket, Starship/Super Heavy, with the goal of traveling to Mars. For additional information on SpaceX, please visit spacex.com.

Environmental Documents in Progress and Completed

Complete: Tiered Environmental Assessment for Updates to Airspace Closures for the Flight 9 Mission Profile of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Vehicle at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas

The FAA is announcing the availability of the Tiered Environmental Assessment for Updates to Airspace Closures for the Flight 9 Mission Profile of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas and associated license modification.

Based on the safety analysis for Starship-Super Heavy Flight 9, an Aircraft Hazard Area and associated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) would necessitate FAA to close airspace over a portion of the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands. This is an update to the existing operations involving the Starship-Super Heavy described in the April 2025 Tiered EA. 

The electronic versions of the Final Tiered EA and Mitigated FONSI/ROD are available on this website for download. 

• Final Tiered EA
• FONSI/ROD

Complete: Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas.

The FAA is announcing the availability of the Final Tiered Environmental Assessment (Final Tiered EA) and Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (Final Tiered EA and Mitigated FONSI/ROD). The FAA is the lead agency on the Final Tiered EA. 

The electronic versions of the Final Tiered EA and Mitigated FONSI/ROD are available on this website for download. 

• Mitigated FONSI/ROD
• Executive Summary
• Final Tiered EA
• Appendix A
  • Appendix A Part 1
  • Appendix A Part 2
  • Appendix A Part 3
  • Appendix A Part 4
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
  • Appendix C Part 1
  • Appendix C Part 2

Spanish language translated versions of documents
•    Conclusión Mitigada de Impacto No Significativo y Registro de Decisión
•    Resumen Ejecutivo

Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would modify SpaceX’s existing vehicle operator license to authorize:

• Up to 25 annual Starship/Super Heavy orbital launches, including:
  • Up to 25 annual landings of Starship (Second stage)
  • Up to 25 annual landings of Super Heavy (First stage)

The Final Tiered EA also addressed vehicle upgrades.

The FAA previously released the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (Draft EA) for public review and comment on July 29, 2024. The FAA released the Revised Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (Revised Draft EA) for public review and comment on November 20, 2024. The FAA held two in-person meetings on January 7, 2025, in Brownsville, Texas and one virtual meeting on January 13, 2025. All comments received on the Draft EA between July 29 and August 29, 2024, as well as the Revised Draft EA between November 20, 2024 and January 17, 2025, were given equal weight and taken into consideration. 

The comment period closed on January 17, 2025. All comments submitted online and in other forms are included in this Final Tiered EA.

Previous Activity

View the archive of activities related to the Starship/Super Heavy launch operations from the Boca Chica Launch Site. 

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