After nearly half a year of delays, the Federal Aviation Administration finally issued its environmental impact assessment that could allow SpaceX to launch the world’s largest rocket into orbit from Boca Chica Beach.
Those launches aren’t assured; those permits are separate from the environmental review. But the review issued June 13, which found no significant impact from SpaceX operations and proposals, is a major step toward getting permission to launch.
The report does order the aeronautics company to take more than 75 different steps in order to secure launch permits, so Rio Grande Valley residents and visitors will have to wait to see the massive Starship Super Heavy rocket blast off into space. Although some environmentalists and other residents remain opposed to SpaceX’s presence here, the company should be able to jump through those hoops or perhaps negotiate alternative steps to make orbital launches a possibility.
The new evaluation is necessary because the scope of operations at Boca Chica has changed. Opponents have alleged that SpaceX might have been disingenuous when it secured the first FAA permits as well as concessions from Cameron County regarding road closures, public notification and other matters, but orbital launches apparently weren’t planned for the local facility.
Boca Chica originally was planned primarily as a construction and testing facility, where new rocket designs would be built and tried out. As we have seen since testing began in 2019, failures can occur, causing explosions that can be spectacular — and dangerous. To help ensure public safety, SpaceX negotiated with Cameron County to close state Highway 4 that leads to the beach on testing days. Those days were expected to occur about once a month.
This is only one of several SpaceX facilities, with other operations taking place in Florida and west Texas. The company also had a presence in California, but reduced its operations there and moved much of the work to Boca Chica.
The increased role for the local facility includes orbital launches — and the need for the level of permission from FAA, which made the mitigation process necessary.
Agency requirements include new steps SpaceX must take to help maintain access to Highway 4 and the beach, rather than secure more closures as testing and launches increase. Increased activity also increases the risk of mishaps, so the company might have to consider alternative measures such as tightening the launch trajectory window to ensure that populated areas aren’t at risk. SpaceX president Elon Musk has suggested building a tunnel to the island, or the jetties, from South Padre Island, but we know of no concrete plans to make it happen.
Musk has shown a willingness and ability to meet whatever challenges face him, and we can expect concerns raised by the FAA, local officials and many residents to be addressed.
Permits for orbital launches have yet to be secured, but the environmental report is a major step. It likely will be just a matter of time before local residents will be able to see the Starship lift off on its way around the world.
