SpaceX gets key approval for Mars rocket test

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PHXPhlyer
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SpaceX gets key approval for Mars rocket test

#1 Post by PHXPhlyer » Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:25 pm

SpaceX’s Starship Mars rocket closer to orbital test

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/13/tech/spa ... index.html

Federal regulators made a key decision on SpaceX’s plans to launch its gargantuan Mars rocket, called Starship, into orbit from Texas — saying Monday that, as long as the company complies with 75 “mitigating actions,” the rocket launches should clear federal standards for environmental impact.

The list of actions includes enlisting a “qualified biologist” to monitor the impact on local wildlife; warning the public ahead of launches about the loud sonic booms and possible dangers; and agreeing to clean up any shrapnel from the launches in “sensitive habitats.” The company also has to agree to not launch on major holidays and a limited number of weekends so that the public can maintain access to a nearby beach.

The environmental review approval doesn’t guarantee that the Federal Aviation Administration will give SpaceX a launch license, however, which will involve a safety and risk assessment. That’s still under review.

SpaceX had been waiting for this decision for nearly a year as the reviews have kept the company from attempting to put a Starship spacecraft into orbit, a test flight that SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk had hoped would take off as soon as July of last year.

But the back half of 2021 was full of hangups. The FAA, which licenses commercial rocket launches, was carrying out an environmental assessment to review what the impact would be of launching such a massive rocket from a stretch of rural Texas coastline. A public comment period in October aired the voices of many local residents strongly opposed to the idea, as well as some fervent supporters who weren’t necessarily from the area.

Participants in the public comments were allowed to dial in from anywhere. And while most people spoke in favor of letting the project move forward, the people who identified themselves as living in the vicinity of SpaceX’s South Texas launch site were mostly opposed, according to a tally kept by Joey Roulette, then a reporter at The Verge.

Though SpaceX expected to get the all-clear by the end of 2021, the FAA kicked the can down the road several times. At one point, the agency cited “the high volume of comments submitted” and “discussions and consultation efforts with consulting parties” as reasons for the delay.

If SpaceX doesn’t get approval to launch from South Texas, it could move Starship operations to Florida, where the company already launches the majority of its workhorse Falcon 9 rockets. Though SpaceX would still need FAA approval to move forward with that plan, and Reuters reported Monday that NASA is concerned about potential damage to infrastructure.

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PHXPhlyer
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Re: SpaceX gets key approval for Mars rocket test

#2 Post by PHXPhlyer » Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:57 am

FAA Requirements

https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_e ... x_starship
Website includes link

SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site
SpaceX proposes to conduct Starship/Super Heavy launch operations from the Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas. 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. Read more about the history of the Boca Chica launch site and the location of the launch site.

FAA
The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, as amended and codified at 51 U.S.C. §§ 50901-50923, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to oversee, license, and regulate commercial launch and reentry activities, and the operation of launch and reentry sites within the United States or as carried out by U.S. citizens. Section 50905 directs the Secretary to exercise this responsibility consistent with public health and safety, safety of property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States. In addition, Section 50903 requires the Secretary to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector. As codified at 49 CFR § 1.83(b), the Secretary has delegated authority to carry out these functions to the FAA Administrator.

For more information, read more about the License Review Process and the Environmental Review Process.

SpaceX
Founded in 2002, SpaceX is a commercial space transportation company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX developed the Falcon 1 (no longer operational), Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy vertical orbital launch vehicles, all of which were built with the goal of becoming reusable launch vehicles. SpaceX launches commercial and government payloads, including the Dragon spacecraft, which was recently used to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station and bring them back to Earth. SpaceX is currently developing a new rocket, Starship/Super Heavy, with the goal of traveling to Mars. For additional information on SpaceX, please visit spacex.com.

Project Updates
Programmatic Environmental Assessment
The FAA published the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Final PEA) and Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (Mitigated FONSI/ROD) for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (PEA) on June 13, 2022. The documentation is available for download below.

Executive Summary of the Final PEA – English (PDF) 2MB
Mitigated FONSI/ROD – English (PDF) 1MB
Final PEA for SpaceX Starship Super Heavy at Boca Chica (PDF) 12MB
Appendix A. References (PDF) <1MB
Appendix B. Noise Assessment (PDF) 8MB
Appendix C. National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation (PDF) 3MB
Appendix D. Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation (PDF) 25MB
Appendix E. Department of Transportation Act Section 4(f) Consultation (PDF) 7MB
Appendix F. Viewshed Supporting Images (PDF) 3MB
Appendix G. Exhaust Plume Calculations (PDF) <1MB
Appendix H. Jurisdictional Wetland Determination (PDF) <1MB
Appendix I. Comment Response (PDF) <1MB
Appendix J. TGLO Correspondence (PDF) <1MB
Appendix K. MOA Between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and SpaceX (PDF) <1MB
Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision
The FAA determined that the Proposed Action would not result in significant environmental consequences and has issued a Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD). The Mitigated FONSI/ROD is available above. Required mitigation measures are listed throughout Chapter 3 of the final PEA. Should any future license or permit be issued to SpaceX to perform any aspect of the Proposed Action, the FAA will ensure that SpaceX implements these mitigation measures as conditions for licensure.

Biological Opinion
As part of the Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation process, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a Biological Opinion (BO), which concludes the Proposed Action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any federally listed species or adversely modify designated critical habitat. The BO is included in PEA Appendix D and available here (PDF).

Programmatic Agreement
As part of the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultation process, the FAA, Texas State Historic Preservation Officer, National Park Service, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, SpaceX, USFWS, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executed a Programmatic Agreement (PA). The PA outlines the measures to resolve adverse effects of the Proposed Action on historic properties. The PA is included in PEA Appendix C and available here (PDF).

Background
The FAA published the draft PEA on September 17, 2021. The original comment period was from September 17, 2021 through October 18, 2021. In response to public requests, the FAA extended the comment period to November 1, 2021. The FAA held two virtual public hearings to solicit comments from the public concerning the scope and content of the draft PEA. The hearings were held October 18 and October 20, 2021. The comments can be found on this page. The PEA was revised based on public comments, and the final PEA includes responses to comments (see final PEA Appendix I).

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