FAA Review: SpaceX “Starfall” Reentry Missions

[Elderberry]

Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE by Leonard David 5/29/2026

FAA Completes Environmental Review for SpaceX Starfall

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued the Final Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starfall reentry vehicle. The review evaluated the environmental impacts of reentry, splashdown, and recovery activities.

Under the proposal, SpaceX would launch two Starfall missions to Low Earth Orbit or to a sub-orbital trajectory as a payload on the Falcon 9 or the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicles. The capsules would splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the U.S. west coast in international waters.

Under the Proposed Action addressed in the Environmental Assessment (EA), FAA would modify SpaceX’s existing license to conduct up to 10 reentries per year with the Pacific Ocean as its primary landing location.

More: https://www.leonarddavid.com/faa-review-spacex-starfall-reentry-missions/

[BobfromWB]

Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE by Leonard David 5/29/2026

FAA Completes Environmental Review for SpaceX Starfall

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued the Final Environmental Assessment for the SpaceX Starfall reentry vehicle. The review evaluated the environmental impacts of reentry, splashdown, and recovery activities.

Under the proposal, SpaceX would launch two Starfall missions to Low Earth Orbit or to a sub-orbital trajectory as a payload on the Falcon 9 or the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicles. The capsules would splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the U.S. west coast in international waters.

Under the Proposed Action addressed in the Environmental Assessment (EA), FAA would modify SpaceX’s existing license to conduct up to 10 reentries per year with the Pacific Ocean as its primary landing location.

More: https://www.leonarddavid.com/faa-review-spacex-starfall-reentry-missions/

Excerpt:
The SpaceX Starfall concept has largely been a hush-hush initiative by the company, exploring how the microgravity environment can be used for manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs, semiconductors, and other products.