The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepares an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of issuing a commercial launch vehicle operator license to SpaceX for the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle at the Launch Complex 39A. (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida.
SpaceX intends to build launch, landing and other associated infrastructure on and near LC-39A. The proposal would also include Starship-Super Heavy launches on LC-39A; recoverable Super Heavy boosters and Starship landings on LC-39A or an unmanned craft; and expendable Super Heavy boosters and Starship landings in the ocean.
SpaceX must obtain a vehicle operator license from the FAA for Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations. Issuing a vehicle operator license and approving airspace closure is considered a significant federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
In consideration of SpaceX’s revised proposal, NASA and the FAA have determined that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the appropriate level of NEPA analysis to address the adjusted scope of Starship-Super Heavy on LC-39A. SpaceX will prepare the EIS under the supervision of the FAA, which will act as the lead agency at the request of NASA. While the 2019 Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by NASA provides an analytical foundation, the environmental impacts of these proposed changes to the development and operations of Starship-Super Heavy LC-39A will be specifically analyzed in this EIS.
The EIS will consider the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and the no-action alternative. Successful completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA will issue a vehicle operator license. The project must also meet all FAA safety, risk and compensation requirements for the applicable license.
