The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has filed a notice of intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for SpaceX’s proposed Starship-Super Heavy operations at Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, Texas. The notice, filed October 13 and scheduled for Federal Register publication October 14, sets separate annual analysis ceilings of up to 456 launches and 912 landings. The FAA notice begins environmental scoping; it does not authorize those operating rates.
What the FAA is reviewing
The proposal covers expanded Starship-Super Heavy launches and landings at Boca Chica, along with expanded Starship landing and expenditure locations. The 456 figure counts launches; the 912 figure counts landings at Boca Chica, including landings tied to launches from elsewhere.
The notice describes three annual levels for the analysis: the current authorization, as stated by the FAA, and two proposed phases.
| Operating stage | Launches per year | Landings per year |
| Current authorization stated by the FAA | Up to 25 | Up to 50 |
| Phase 1 analysis ceiling | Up to 100 | Up to 200 |
| Phase 2 analysis ceiling | Up to 456 | Up to 912 |
The current landing authorization comprises 25 Starship landings and 25 Super Heavy landings. Phase 1 would allow operations on any day and at any time under the scenario being analyzed. Phase 2 is described as a mature-program phase to be implemented within several years; launches could take place at any time of day, Monday through Friday. The notice gives no specific calendar date for that phase.
For its analysis, the FAA assumes half of launches and landings would occur between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and half between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Those are modeling assumptions. The FAA will also examine aviation emissions and air quality, biological and coastal resources, noise, socioeconomic effects, children’s health and safety risks, visual effects, water resources, historic and cultural resources, land use, farmland, hazardous materials and other listed topics.
Public scoping and meeting dates
The FAA has scheduled four in-person scoping sessions and one virtual session for November. The in-person meetings are planned for November 17 at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville and November 19 at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center. On each date, sessions are scheduled for 1–3 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. Central time. The virtual session is scheduled for November 18, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Central time.
The notice sets November 30, 2026, as the deadline for scoping comments. The FAA invites comments on alternatives, potential impacts, and relevant studies or analyses. Comments can be submitted through the Federal E-Rulemaking Portal by searching docket FAA-2026-12808, or by mail to the FAA specialist identified in the notice. Comments filed to the docket will be posted online, including any personal identifying information submitted with them.
The FAA says it will later release a draft PEIS for public review and comment.
