On October 13, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it would prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for SpaceX’s proposed expansion of Starship-Super Heavy operations at Boca Chica, Texas. The review opens an environmental analysis and public-comment process; the proposal is not an authorization to increase launches. The FAA notice lays out the proposed operating limits, topics for review and ways to participate.
What the FAA is reviewing
The proposal concerns launches at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase and expanded locations for Starship landings and vehicle disposal. A PEIS is a programmatic environmental impact statement prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); it will assess the proposal’s potential effects before the FAA considers any associated licensing changes.
Two proposed operating stages
The FAA’s current authorization allows up to 25 launches and 50 landings a year at Boca Chica: 25 Starship landings and 25 Super Heavy landings. SpaceX’s proposal describes two higher operating stages.
| Stage | Launches per year | Landings per year at Boca Chica |
| Current authorization | Up to 25 | Up to 50 |
| Phase 1 proposal | Up to 100 | Up to 200 |
| Phase 2 proposal | Up to 456 originating at Boca Chica | Up to 912 at Boca Chica |
Phase 1 could operate on any day and at any time. Phase 2 launches would be limited to weekdays, but could take place at any time of day; the FAA describes it as a mature-program phase to be implemented within several years, without specifying a fixed date.
The Phase 2 figures count different things: 456 launches must originate at Boca Chica, while the 912-landing ceiling applies at the site regardless of where a mission launched. The proposal allows Super Heavy and Starship to land at Boca Chica, make water landings in the Gulf of America or open ocean, or be expended, depending on the stage and mission.
For its environmental analysis, the FAA assumes half of launches and landings would occur from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and half from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Those day-and-night shares are an analytical scenario, separate from the proposed operating schedule.
What the environmental review will cover
The PEIS will examine potential effects on aviation emissions and air quality; fish, wildlife and plants; coastal resources and farmland; hazardous materials, solid waste and pollution prevention; historic and cultural resources; land use; energy and other natural resources; noise; socioeconomic conditions and children’s health and safety; visual effects; and water resources, including wetlands and floodplains.
The FAA also includes temporary airspace closures associated with the proposal in its review. It is initiating historic-property consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and consulting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service on protected species.
The notice sets out a No Action alternative: the FAA would leave the license and temporary airspace-closure arrangements unmodified, with operations continuing at the cadence approved in the 2025 environmental assessment and decision. The FAA says other launch sites are not reasonable alternatives for this project because Boca Chica already has launch infrastructure. A draft PEIS will be released later for public review and comment.
How to take part in the FAA process
The FAA scheduled four in-person scoping sessions in Brownsville and Port Isabel, one virtual meeting, and a written-comment deadline. All listed times are Central Time.
| Participation event | Date and time | Venue or submission route |
| Brownsville in-person sessions | November 17, 2026, 1–3 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Texas Southmost College, Jacob Brown Auditorium, 600 International Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78520 |
| Virtual meeting | November 18, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Connection details to be posted on the FAA project website |
| Port Isabel in-person sessions | November 19, 2026, 1–3 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 309 Railroad St, Port Isabel, TX 78578 |
| Written comments due | November 30, 2026 | Regulations.gov, docket FAA-2026-12808, or U.S. mail to Amy Hanson, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, SpaceX Boca Chica, c/o Kimley-Horn, 767 Eustis Street, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55114 |
At in-person sessions, attendees can give verbal comments to a court reporter or submit written comments. The virtual meeting is scheduled to include a presentation followed by formal comments; verbal comments will be accepted, while chat messages will not enter the public record. The FAA plans English-Spanish interpretation for verbal comments at the virtual session. It says Spanish and English versions of the presentation will be available by November 10, and requests for additional accommodations are due by November 2.
Comments posted to the public docket will appear online without changes, including any personal identifying information submitted with them.
Flight 14 is a milestone, not a cadence measure
Quartz reporter Cris Tolomia reported that Starship’s Flight 14 reached orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. That reported flight milestone gives context to the proposal, while the proposed annual limits describe a much higher operating scale. The FAA’s environmental review is examining that proposal; it does not set the operational cadence. CNET’s recap follows Flight 14 from liftoff through ascent.
