SpaceX cannot expand its launch facilities at Boca Chica in Texas any time soon. According to documents obtained by BloombergAnd CNBCThe Army Corps of Engineers has concluded its review of SpaceX’s application to construct a new launch and landing pad in Boca Chica. SpaceX reportedly did not provide the Army Corps with all the environmental information it requested. The permit process can’t proceed without it.
The company planned to build new infrastructure on 17 acres that included wetlands and mudflats. As CNBCThe Army Corps is responsible for stewardship of wetland areas that provide habitat for wildlife and fish in the country. It oversees any development in wetlands to ensure that it does not have a significant impact on endangered species or the water supply for residents. It also examines whether companies can move construction elsewhere.
The Army Corps sent a letter to SpaceX describing the information it is seeking, including the exact impact of SpaceX’s expansion on the wetlands. It is also seeking data on endangered and threatened species, as well as current knowledge about the existence or absence of historical properties on the land. SpaceX can restart the permit process if it has all the information required.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also reviewing the facility in order to determine if the Starship’s launch from Boca Chica will pose safety risks or have a significant environmental impact. SpaceX was expected to hear from the FAA last spring, but the agency has delayed its decision quite often since then. The latest deadline for completion is April 29th. It won’t be permitted to launch its large spaceship from Boca Chica, where it will conduct its first orbital test flight. This flight is expected to take places in the next few weeks. Elon Musk stated that SpaceX will move Starship launches from Cape Canaveral to Florida if it fails to obtain the Texas permits required by the company.
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