Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) proposes to conduct Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations associated with Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Brevard County, Florida. SpaceX must apply for and obtain a modified vehicle operator license from Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA AST) to conduct the proposed Starship-Super Heavy operations. FAA’s evaluation of a 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. 

Environmental Documents in Progress and Completed

In Progress: Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

FAA is announcing its intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida (SEIS) concerning SpaceX’s proposal to obtain a modification to their existing vehicle operator license for Starship-Super Heavy operations associated with SLC-37 at CCSFS.

In 2025, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (2025 DAF EIS) addressing the potential environmental impacts associated with the redevelopment of SLC-37 and Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations at CCSFS. The 2025 DAF EIS analyzed up to 76 Starship-Super Heavy launches and up to 152 landings per year (up to 76 Super Heavy and up to 76 Starship landings). The 2025 DAF EIS concluded that implementation of the Proposed Action, with mitigation and adaptive management measures, would not result in significant environmental impacts except for noise. The DAF issued a Record of Decision (ROD) authorizing SpaceX to undertake certain construction activities for Starship-Super Heavy operations, to conduct prelaunch operations, as well as conduct up to 76 launches and up to 152 landings annually, pending supplementation of the Proposed Action with the temporary airspace closures and associated additional analysis by the FAA to support a follow-on decision from the DAF. FAA participated as a cooperating agency in the 2025 DAF EIS but did not issue a ROD, because SpaceX had not submitted an application to FAA for a vehicle operator license for Starship-Super Heavy operations at SLC-37 at that time.

Following DAF’s issuance of its ROD, SpaceX began developing infrastructure at SLC-37 to support future Starship-Super Heavy operations. SpaceX must obtain a modification of their existing vehicle operator license from FAA before conducting commercial Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations associated with SLC-37.
Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue a modification of SpaceX’s existing vehicle operator license to authorize:

• Up to 76 Starship-Super Heavy launches annually,
• Up to 152 landings per year (up to 76 Super Heavy Booster and up to 76 Starship vehicle landings), including return-to-launch-site and ocean landings; and,
• Issuance of temporary airspace closures

The public scoping period starts with the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. The FAA published its Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 29, 2026. The public scoping comment period closes on October 14, 2026.

FAA invites interested parties to submit comments on alternatives or impacts and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed agency action by October 14, 2026.  Public comments can be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-10792 or by postal mail to Ms. Eva Long, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA, 20190.

For any media inquiries, please contact the FAA Press Office at pressoffice@faa.gov.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask FAA in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, FAA cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All comments received during the comment period will be given equal weight and be taken into consideration in the preparation of the SEIS. 

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