The FAA is reviewing SpaceX’s proposal to scale Starship/Super Heavy operations at Starbase to as many as 456 launches and 912 landings a year. The agency’s project page describes a two-phase environmental review and public-scoping process, not authorization to operate at those levels. Space.com reported that the FAA announced its intent to begin the review on October 14, 2026.
Space.com also reported that the then-current allowance was 25 launches per year. The proposed second phase would raise that annual launch maximum to 456, alongside up to 912 landings.
The two proposed phases
| Proposed phase | Maximum launches per year | Maximum landings per year | Schedule in the proposal |
| Phase 1 | 100 | 200 | Launches and landings could occur any day or time. |
| Phase 2 | 456 | 912 | Launches could occur at any time, Monday through Friday. |
The FAA’s proposed landing totals comprise one Starship landing and one Super Heavy landing per launch: 100 of each in Phase 1 and 456 of each in Phase 2. The agency’s schedule for Phase 2 explicitly applies the Monday-through-Friday condition to launches.
What the FAA is reviewing
The proposed action also includes temporary airspace closures and expanded Starship landing and expenditure areas. Public scoping is the stage when the FAA invites input on the alternatives, environmental impacts, studies and analyses the agency should consider in its planned Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.
That review is separate from permission to fly. The FAA says SpaceX must apply for and obtain experimental permits and/or a vehicle operator license to operate Starship/Super Heavy.
How to take part
The FAA scheduled four in-person scoping meetings and one virtual meeting for November 17–19, 2026. At the in-person meetings, the FAA presentation is scheduled for the first half-hour, followed by open-house information stations. Attendees can give verbal comments to a court reporter or submit written comments on a form. At the virtual meeting, attendees can give oral comments of up to three minutes after the presentation; registration is required.
- November 17: Texas Southmost College, Jacob Brown Auditorium, 600 International Blvd, Brownsville, Texas 78520. Sessions are scheduled for 1–3 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. Central Time.
- November 18: Virtual meeting, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Central Time.
- November 19: Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 309 Railroad St, Port Isabel, Texas 78578. Sessions are scheduled for 1–3 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. Central Time.
Comments can be submitted electronically through Regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-12808 or by postal mail using the address on the FAA project page. The comment period is scheduled to close November 30, 2026. The FAA says comments and identifying information submitted with them may become public, and requests to withhold identifying information cannot be guaranteed. The agency planned to post Spanish presentation materials by November 10 and set November 2 as the deadline to request additional accommodations through the project email address.
