Although we are still waiting for SpaceX to signal when it will once again pilot the Starship rocket, the company obtained good news from the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday.
After a long examination, the Federal Agency agreed to allow SpaceX to considerably increase the number of annual launches of its base launch site in southern Texas. Previously, the company was limited to five launches, but it will now be able to carry out up to 25 launches and starship landings during a calendar year.
“The FAA has determined that the modification of the license of the operator of spacex vehicles supporting the increase in the launch and landing rate of the launch vehicle of starship / super heavy would not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment,” said the document, known as the attenuated observation without significant impact. This finding was signed by Daniel P. Murray, executive director of the FAA operational security office.
This decision follows a discovery project published six months ago which indicates that it would be the final result.
Evaluate all impacts
Among the impacts considered, there was an increase in truck operations to deliver water and various propellants necessary to support starship launches. A previous analysis of the FAA revealed that, to support a rate of 25 launches per year, the presence of the vehicle on the State Highway 4 to Boca Chica Beach will increase to around 6,000 trucks per year at 23,771 trucks per year.
For this reason, the FAA requires SpaceX to take dozens of attenuating actions. For example, for trucks, he sought to reduce the kilometers of the employees hunted on the main artery leading to the base of the base launch site.
“The proposed action would increase the annual trafficking of trucks, but mitigation measures such as employee shuttles and the limitation of aquatic truck deliveries during daytime would help reduce traffic impacts on fauna,” said the FAA document.
