SpaceX has received crucial environmental clearance from U.S. regulators. This decision represents a considerable milestone for the company as it prepares to ramp its launch cadence. Approved on Wednesday, the environmental review enables SpaceX to more than double its Falcon 9 launches from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, increasing its annual launch capacity from 50 to up to 120.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed a key environmental review, stating that the proposed changes by SpaceX “would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment.” This realization provides the growing company with a green light to accelerate its launch cadence. It intends to increase that figure, aiming to ramp up from only 60 launches in 2022 to a projected 132 in 2024.
Along with its growth spurt on the east coast of Florida, SpaceX has been ramping up its operations on the West Coast. To compensate, the company plans to fly as many as 100 Falcon rockets per year. They’re scheduled to fly to the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This two-pronged strategy underscores SpaceX’s desire to grow its footprint on either coast of the United States.
The FAA recently signed off on a new, on-site helicopter landing zone. This facility is capable of supporting up to 34 booster landings per year. After refurbishment, the company reuses these boosters for future flights. Before starting construction on any new facilities related to this expansion, SpaceX has to go through other environmental permitting procedures.
Yet, despite being labeled “incidental,” these permits must meet a high bar of environmental protection. These range from using sea turtle-friendly lighting for nighttime rocket launches, to pre-construction surveys of local wildlife, including endangered Florida scrub-jays and eastern indigo snakes. These steps are intended to ensure that the environmental integrity of the launch sites is maintained.
Regardless of the difficulties posed by regulatory compliance, SpaceX’s momentum rolls forth undeterred. With the frequency of company launches sharply increasing, the company’s operational pace is about to grow at a remarkable tempo of its own. SpaceX’s modifications as described in the FAA’s environmental review will limit the negative impact on the surrounding environment and community. With this reassuring finding, the company can proceed with confidence.
This most recent approval comes in the wake of increasing momentum for commercial spaceflight. It is quickly becoming a necessary complement to national and international space endeavors. As private companies like SpaceX increase their activity in space exploration and satellite deployment, regulatory bodies are tasked with balancing growth and environmental stewardship.
