Space SpaceX eyes new launch site for Mars-bound Starship rocket

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Independent by Anthony Cuthbertson 2/19/2024

‘We’re really going to be launching a lot,’ Elon Musk says

A new launch site for SpaceX’s Starship has been proposed as part of chief executive Elon Musk’s plans to ramp up the launch schedule of the Mars-bound rocket.

Measuring roughly 120 metres when fully stacked, Starship is the biggest rocket ever built, capable of delivering a payload of around 100,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit.

SpaceX currently develops and launches Starship prototypes at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, though the company’s ambition is to establish a global network of launchpads to facilitate interplanetary travel.

The US Department of the Air Force detailed the proposed action for the new site in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in a new website, revealing that SpaceX is hoping to take over the SLC-37 launchpad.

More: https://www.independent.co.uk/space/spacex-starship-launch-elon-musk-b2498616.html
 

[Elderberry]

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

FEDERAL REGISTER

A Notice by the Air Force Department on 02/21/2024

AGENCY:

Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense; Federal Aviation Administration; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and United States Coast Guard.

ACTION:

Notice of intent.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Air Force is the lead agency for this notice. The Federal Aviation Administration is a cooperating agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and U.S. Coast Guard were invited to be cooperating agencies for this action. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with (1) the execution of a real property agreement between the United States Space Force (USSF) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), which would enable SpaceX to develop a launch site to support Starship-Super Heavy operations, including launch and landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), and (2) the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) issuance of a vehicle operator license at the selected launch site and approval of related airspace closures.

DATES:

A public scoping period will take place starting from the date of this NOI publication in the Federal Register and will last for 30 days. Comments will be accepted at any time during the environmental impact analysis process; however, to ensure the DAF has sufficient time to consider public scoping comments during preparation of the Draft EIS, please submit comments within the 30-day scoping period.

The DAF invites the public, stakeholders, and other interested parties to attend one or more of the three in-person public scoping meetings or the virtual public scoping meeting. In-person meetings will be held March 5 at Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library, 308 Forrest Ave., Cocoa, FL 32922; March 6 at Titusville Civic Center, 4220 S Hopkins Ave., Titusville, FL 32780; and March 7 at Radisson Resort At The Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Each in-person scoping meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. A virtual meeting is scheduled for March 12 at 6 p.m. Information on how to attend the virtual meeting is available on the project website (SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com). The meetings will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the Proposed Action and Alternatives and provide an early and open process to assist the DAF and its Cooperating Agencies in determining the scope of issues for analysis in the EIS, including identifying significant environmental issues and eliminating from further study non-significant issues. Scope consists of the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered in the EIS. Project team members will be available to answer questions and there will also be an opportunity to provide oral and written comments. Scoping meeting materials will be provided in English and Spanish.

The Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS is anticipated in December 2024 and the NOA for the Final EIS is anticipated in September 2025. A decision could be made no earlier than 30 days after the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES:

The project website (SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com) provides information related to the EIS, such as environmental documents, schedule, and project details, as well as a comment form. Comments may be submitted via the website comment form, emailed to

ContactUs@SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com, or mailed to CCSFS Starship EIS c/o Jacobs, 5401 W Kennedy Blvd., Suite 300, Tampa, Florida 33609. Members of the public who want to receive future mailings informing them of the availability of the Draft EIS and Final EIS are encouraged to submit a comment that includes their name and email or postal mailing address. For other inquiries, please contact Ms. Molly Thrash, NEPA Project Manager at

ContactUs@SpaceForceStarshipEIS.com or 1–813–954–5608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The purpose for the DAF's Proposed Action is to advance U.S. space capabilities and provide launch and landing infrastructure in furtherance of U.S. policy to ensure capabilities necessary to launch and insert national security payloads into space (United States Code [U.S.C.] Title 10, Section 2273, “Policy regarding assured access to space: national security payloads”).

More: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/02/21/2024-03554/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-spacex-starship-super-heavy