After discovering that the company’s proposals do not adversely affect the human environment, the agency loosens public reviews.
Merritt Island, Fla. — Spacex launch activity on Florida’s space shore could increase once every three days, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allowed a public review of a draft environmental assessment of its change.
The Private Space Company is currently approved to use Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. Now, it has increased its operations to a maximum of 120 per year, and its launch site has built a new landing zone for the first stage of the Falcon 9, with up to 34 landings per year.
After assessing the air quality, climate, noise, and potential impacts on culture and water resources, on procedures to reduce hazardous materials, solid waste, and pollution, the FAA stated:
“Based on the above review… the FAA concluded in advance that the proposed behavior would have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.”
The FAA is also working with the Air Force Department for this draft environmental assessment, and the FAA has posted a link to the Air Force assessment for public comments.
The virtual public meeting will be held on April 16th from 6pm to 8pm, with public comment periods on both the assessment and findings remaining open until April 24th.
The rating continues to evaluate another SpaceX proposal by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to build a Falcon 9 Landing Zone adjacent to the Historic Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with its launch pads increasing further to 36 launches a year, five of which could become three-piece Falcon heavy rockets. The new landing zone will receive 20 landings, with the rest landing on drones off the coast.
SpaceX currently uses both the Launch Complex 40 and the Launch Complex 39A for manned and unmanned spaceflight, and will send the Crew-10 to the International Space Station on March 14, starting March 14, just two days after launching the previous Starlink satellite.
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