Overview

• The FAA has authorized SpaceX to increase Starship launches and landings from five to 25 annually at its Texas Starbase facility.
• The approval comes after a comprehensive environmental review under NEPA, determining no significant environmental impacts with prescribed mitigation measures.
• Mitigation requirements include traffic management, wastewater controls, and quarterly environmental efforts to address ecological and community concerns.
• Conservation groups raised concerns over potential harm to endangered species, but the FAA overruled these objections, citing minimal overall impact.
• SpaceX must still meet additional FAA licensing requirements, including safety, policy, and financial reviews, before finalizing the license modification.