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FAA Clears SpaceX to Raise Cape Canaveral Falcon 9 Launches to 120 and Add New Landing Pad

A modified FONSI removes the need for a full Environmental Impact Statement, accelerating the timeline.

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster makes a landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Landing Zone 1 on a foggy evening Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Courtesy/SpaceX)

Overview

  • Regulators modified an existing FONSI for SLC-40, concluding a full EIS is unnecessary and avoiding a process that reports say could have added years.
  • SpaceX is now authorized to increase Falcon 9 launches from SLC-40 from 50 per year to as many as 120.
  • The approval covers construction and operation of a landing pad at SLC-40 for up to 34 booster returns, aligning with a Space Force push to co-locate launch and landing sites.
  • The FAA also okayed up to 40 pre-launch static-fire tests annually from the Cape, with each firing limited to seven seconds.
  • A lull in Falcon Heavy missions until at least late 2026 creates a window to build the new pads, while a separate LC-39A review to lift caps to 36 launches and up to 20 landings remains pending and other FAA licensing and safety requirements still apply.