By 
March 26th, 2022
Credit: Elon Musk/SpaceX
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intends to issue the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy project on April 29, 2022.
The previous target date was March 28, 2022.
The FAA is currently reviewing the Final PEA and completing consultation and coordination with agencies at the local, State, and Federal level.
Important note: “The completion of the environmental review will not guarantee that the FAA will issue a license to SpaceX to launch its Starship / Super Heavy vehicle. SpaceX’s license application must also meet FAA safety, risk and financial responsibility requirements,” the FAA adds.
SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas.
Credit: Elon Musk/SpaceX
Public review and comment
On September 17, 2021, the FAA published the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas, doing so for public review and comment.
The FAA intended to release the Final PEA on March 28, 2022. The FAA now plans to release the Final PEA on April 29, 2022 “to account for further comment review and ongoing interagency consultations. A notice will be sent to individuals and organizations on the project distribution list when the Final PEA is available.”
Credit: FAA
Operator license
SpaceX proposes to conduct Starship/Super Heavy launch operations from the Boca Chica Launch Site. SpaceX must apply for and obtain an experimental permit(s) and/or a vehicle operator license from the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation to operate the Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle.
The FAA’s evaluation of a permit or license application includes a review of 1) public safety issues (such as overflight of populated areas and payload contents); 2) national security or foreign policy concerns; 3) insurance requirements for the launch operator; and 4) potential environmental impact.
Petition posted
Meanwhile, a petition has been posted on change.org by writer and space advocate Howard Bloom titled “The West Must Own Space.”
Credit: SpaceX
China plans to own space by 2035, the petition reads, “but America is still in the lead in the new space race. If only the FAA will move faster on approval of a major launch hub in Texas. America leads the world with the development of a gamechanger, SpaceX’s Starship, a space ship that will carry 100 passengers at a time to the Moon or Mars.”
“The Starship could have its first orbital launch in May, IF the FAA will grant approval on the SpaceX launch facility in Boca Chica Texas. We urge the FAA to approve the SpaceX launch site ASAP. We must stay ahead of the Chinese,” the petition states.
For additional information from the FAA on their engagement with the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy project, go to:
https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship/
The petition – “The West Must Own Space” – can be found here:
Posted in Space News
