In a recent announcement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that it will be conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for SpaceX's proposal to launch its Starships from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This review comes after SpaceX updated the regulatory agency on the projected launch rate of Starship and the ground infrastructure design needed at Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A), a historic launch pad previously used for Apollo and Space Shuttle missions.

Simultaneously, the US Space Force is overseeing a similar EIS for SpaceX's proposal to take over a launch pad located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, known as Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37). This pad became available for use after United Launch Alliance's last Delta rocket lifted off there in April.

While these environmental reviews typically take time, they signify an important step in solidifying SpaceX's plans to launch Starship from Florida. Over the past five years, these plans have undergone significant changes and modifications.

The completion of the environmental reviews will ultimately determine whether SpaceX's proposals for Starship launches at LC-39A and SLC-37 will be approved. Following this, the FAA will proceed with a separate licensing process similar to the one used for licensing the initial three Starship test launches from South Texas.

SpaceX has lucrative contracts with NASA valued at over $4 billion for the development of a human-rated version of Starship. These contracts aim to facilitate lunar landings as part of the Artemis program in the coming decade. To accomplish this, SpaceX will need to establish a fuel depot in low-Earth orbit to refuel the Starship lunar lander before it embarks on missions to the Moon. It is estimated that approximately 10 to 15 Starship tanker flights will be required to fill the depot with cryogenic propellants.

Given the frequency of Starship launches required for this mission, SpaceX will need to alternate between at least two launch pads. It has been suggested by NASA and SpaceX officials that launching Starships from one pad in Texas and another in Florida would be the most optimal strategy.

NASA's Lisa Watson-Morgan, the manager of the human-rated lunar lander program, expressed that efforts are being made to align the schedules of SpaceX's EIS timeline, NASA's objectives, and the overall project timeline. Although there may appear to be some tight areas on paper, collaborative efforts are underway to address any potential challenges.

Officially, SpaceX has outlined plans to conduct a dress rehearsal for the Starship lunar landing in late 2025. This comprehensive demonstration will involve refueling missions, an uncrewed landing on the lunar surface, and a subsequent takeoff from the Moon. Following this successful demonstration, NASA is expected to commit to including astronauts on the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for September 2026.

As SpaceX races to activate launch pads in Florida by late next year, tight schedules are already apparent for the Starship lunar landing demonstration. The ongoing environmental review will play a crucial role in determining the feasibility of these plans.