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Spots are limited, so act fast. Let us join together for this appointment with sustainability! [Click to register] The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it plans to prepare an environmental impact report for a SpaceX proposal. The plan seeks to conduct up to 456 launches and 912 recovery landings per year at the Starbase site in Boca Chica, Texas, while SpaceX is currently approved for only 25 launches and 50 landings per year.
The FAA said the assessment document covers a two-phase expansion plan. Phase one would allow up to 100 launches and 200 landings per year, with operations permitted on any day of the week and at all hours. Phase two is expected to be implemented within several years, raising the cap to 456 launches and 912 landings per year; launches in that phase could occur at any time of day but would be limited to weekdays.
The FAA noted that the 912 landings per year represent the upper limit for the Texas site, and that this figure applies to all Starship missions regardless of where they lift off. The Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster can either be recovered in place at the launch site or arranged to land on water in the Gulf of America or the open sea.
This environmental assessment will examine the project's potential impacts on air quality, wildlife, coastal resources, water resources, noise, aviation and other areas. A draft will later be released for public comment. The deadline for the FAA to receive written comments is November 30; it plans to hold four in-person public meetings on November 17 and 19 in Brownsville and Port Isabel, Texas, and an online meeting on November 18.
According to reports, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said the company plans to increase Starship launch frequency as much as possible, with the goal of achieving more than one launch per hour within less than a decade. The two-stage Starship-Super Heavy system is designed for rapid turnaround, allowing vehicle components to fly again with little or even no inspection and refurbishment. In 2026, SpaceX has already completed three Starship launches, including the 14th test flight in late September, which successfully reached orbit for the first time and released 26 third-generation Starlink satellites. Bloomberg data shows that the annual number of launches at Starbase has never exceeded five in any past year. The FAA said that if SpaceX seeks to further increase launch and landing frequency beyond the plan in this application in the future, a separate environmental assessment would be required.