Local time on May 6, according to foreign media reports, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the final environmental assessment of SpaceX's proposal to increase the number of Starship/Super Heavy orbital launches in Boca Chica, Texas, allowing the launch frequency to increase from 5 times per year to 25 times.
It is reported that after years of review, the FAA believes that SpaceX's proposal to increase the launch frequency of Texas Starships from 5 times to 25 times will not have a significant impact on the surrounding environment, nor will it lead to potential rocket explosions during booster landings or over the Gulf of Mexico and certain international waters.
Data disclosed by the FAA shows that SpaceX plans to increase the annual launch frequency of Starships at a single launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to 44 times. In addition, SpaceX also plans to renovate the launch facilities at the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station military base in Florida, increasing the annual launch capacity of the launch pads to 76 times.
SpaceX Starship launch image Foreign media photo
In addition, SpaceX applied to raise the annual upper limit of Falcon 9 rocket launches at another launch site in Florida from the current 50 times to 120 times; the company also hopes to increase the total number of annual launches of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets at the U.S. Air Force Base near Santa Barbara, California, to 100 times, nearly doubling the current launch permit limit for Falcon 9 rockets only.
A few days before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration made this decision, SpaceX employees, contractors, and other residents living near the company's rocket park, Starbase, in Texas voted on Saturday to incorporate the area into municipal jurisdiction. This move will allow SpaceX to better influence the future development of this large base and gain some new jurisdiction over its launch operations.
Related information shows that since 2017, SpaceX's coastal park in Boca Chica, Texas has been continuously expanding to promote the development of Starship. Behind the popularity of Starship, there are also dissatisfied environmental advocates and nearby residents who are concerned about the noise, harm to migratory animals, and damage to nature reserves brought about by related research and launches of Starship.
In a document detailing the FAA's decision, it was mentioned that as a condition for increasing launch activities, SpaceX must fulfill a series of community obligations to offset its environmental impact. These obligations include hosting a beach cleanup once a quarter, donating to environmental organizations, testing nearby water quality, and minimizing lighting at the launch site to avoid disturbing nesting sea turtles.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501911089873945099/
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