FAA OKs SpaceX Starship activity

The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the environmental review for new SpaceX Starship flight paths and return-to-launch-site landings at Boca Chica, Texas. (federalregister.gov) The agency published a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision on February 19, 2026, covering additional launch trajectories and Starship Boca Chica landing profiles. (federalregister.gov) (faa.gov) The Federal Aviation Administration said SpaceX must still obtain a modification of its existing vehicle operator license before it can fly those updated mission profiles. The environmental review does not by itself grant launch authority. (faa.gov) (federalregister.gov) In plain terms, the case is about airspace closures — the temporary no-fly zones the government sets so a rocket can launch, reenter, or land without crossing airline traffic. SpaceX asked the Federal Aviation Administration to update those closures for more Starship trajectories and for landings back at Starbase. (faa.gov) The Federal Aviation Administration received 27 public comments on the draft review that was released on September 19, 2025, and the comment period closed on October 20, 2025. A planned virtual public meeting was canceled during a government funding lapse. (federalregister.gov) This decision sits on top of a larger Federal Aviation Administration approval from May 12, 2025, when the agency completed environmental review for increased Starship cadence at Boca Chica. That earlier action covered up to 25 launches a year, up to 25 Starship landings, and up to 25 Super Heavy landings. (federalregister.gov) (faa.gov) The baseline before that was far lower. The 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment had analyzed up to five annual Starship launches, up to five Super Heavy launches, up to ten Starship landings, and up to five Super Heavy landings. (faa.gov) SpaceX says Starship is its fully reusable system, with Starship as the upper stage and Super Heavy as the booster. Reusability only works at high flight rates, which is why launch cadence and landing permissions have become central regulatory fights. (spacex.com) (faa.gov) The Federal Aviation Administration’s February action did not mention Gulf transport of stages or boosters in its notice summary. It focused on updated trajectories, Starship return-to-launch-site mission profiles, and the temporary airspace closures needed to support them. (federalregister.gov) (faa.gov) So the latest confirmed change is narrower than some secondary write-ups suggested: the government finished environmental review for new Starship trajectories and Boca Chica landings, and the next step is a license modification decision. (federalregister.gov) (faa.gov)