The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is responsible for SpaceX’s suborbital launch in South Texas, has again delayed issuing an environmental approval.
According to the FAA, SpaceX has made numerous changes to its environmental assessment application. This is the fifth delay by the FAA in deciding, with the final version of the agency’s environmental assessment due December 2021.
According to the FAA, it plans to release its decision by May 31.
SpaceX plans to launch a suborbital rocket as part of its Starship project. This project is located at Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville. The company plans to expand its Boca Chica Beach site by nearly 20 acres into adjacent federal and state wildlife reserves and wetlands.
Elon Musk, CEO, said in February that if an Environmental Impact Report was ordered by the FAA, which could take up a few years to complete and is not completed on time, he would transfer the launch project to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Musk stated that SpaceX already has FAA environmental clearance for the site.
Musk stated that launches would happen in a matter months if Starship Project moved to Florida. Musk said he was confident that it would reach orbit this calendar year.
According to the FAA, SpaceX’s environmental clearance does NOT mean it is cleared to fly. SpaceX must apply separately for a launch licence.
TPRs were not answered by TPAs regarding SpaceX’s application.
