The U.S. Space Force is embarking on environmental studies to assess the feasibility of SpaceX Starship launches from either the current Cape Canaveral facility or a potential new complex. The Department of the Air Force, inclusive of the Space Force, unveiled plans for an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate Starship launch operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
According to the newly launched website, the EIS will scrutinize the possibility of repurposing Space Launch Complex (SLC) 37, originally constructed in the 1960s for the Saturn rockets and later utilized for Delta 4 launches by Boeing. SpaceX aims to potentially modify or repurpose existing infrastructure at SLC-37 to accommodate Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations.
An alternative option on the table involves the construction of a new launch complex, SLC-50, positioned between SLC-37 and SpaceX's Falcon 9 pad, SLC-40. The comprehensive EIS process, mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, will also consider a “no action” alternative where no new Starship launch sites are developed.
Public engagement is a key component of the EIS process, with three in-person meetings scheduled in Cocoa, Titusville, and Cape Canaveral, Florida, respectively, in early March, along with a virtual session later in the month. These meetings will mark the beginning of a year-and-a-half-long assessment, with a draft EIS slated for release in December for public feedback.
Colonel Shannon DaSilva, deputy director of operations for Space Systems Command, highlighted the scarcity of available land at Cape Canaveral, noting, “We've reallocated all of our launch pads,” during a recent presentation. This underscores the significance of the ongoing evaluation of existing facilities and potential new sites.
The surge in interest in Cape Canaveral launch facilities has prompted the Space Force to allocate abandoned launch sites to multiple companies. This includes sites SLC-13, 14, and 15, which have been assigned to ABL Space Systems, Stoke Space, Phantom Space, and Vaya Space for various small launch vehicle projects.
SpaceX, meanwhile, continues its expansion efforts, with plans to establish a second Starship launch pad at its Starbase facility in South Texas. Elon Musk emphasized the company's commitment to frequent launches, stating, “We're really going to be launching a lot,” during a recent event. Additionally, construction is underway for a Starship launch pad at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.