History of the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project

In 2014, the FAA published the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site (EIS) and Record of Decision. The EIS analyzed the environmental consequences of issuing SpaceX licenses and/or experimental permits for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch operations, as well as operation of reusable suborbital launch vehicles, from a launch site in Cameron County, Texas (i.e., the Boca Chica Launch Site). The analysis in the EIS included construction and operation of the launch site.

SpaceX no longer plans to conduct launches of its Falcon launch vehicles at the Boca Chica Launch Site and has instead decided to use the launch site to conduct Starship/Super Heavy test operations and orbital launches. SpaceX currently holds a license for testing Starship prototypes at the launch site. This involves static fire engine tests and a series of suborbital launches ("hops") from just a few inches to up to 18 miles off the ground.

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Last updated: Friday, November 20, 2020