It’s A Go.
The Department of the Air Force has released its long-awaited Final Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX’s plan to bring Starship–Super Heavy operations to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The 214-page report, published this week, clears a major hurdle for the company as it pushes to launch and land its next-generation rocket from Space Launch Complex-37.
The proposal would turn the old Delta IV pad into a fully rebuilt launch site capable of hosting up to 76 Starship flights a year. Each mission would include a booster landing just minutes after liftoff and a Starship landing hours—or in some cases years—after launch. In short, the skies above the Space Coast are going to be very busy.
The review concludes that the project would bring no major environmental obstacles across most categories.
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Some Issues
Still, two issues stand out: air quality and noise.
The EIS points to significant community annoyance from Starship’s noise and sonic booms, especially during nighttime launches. While the report says structural damage is unlikely, the sound levels will be noticeable across the Space Coast on launch days. SpaceX plans to use heavy sound-suppression systems and coordinate public notifications in advance. Sonic booms from returning boosters and Starship itself will be endemic, day or night.
| Source / Environment | dBA |
|---|---|
| Jet engine at 100′ | 140 |
| Pain Begins | 125 |
| Pneumatic chipper at ear | 120 |
| Chain saw at 3′ | 110 |
| Power mower | 107 |
| Cape Canaveral – Starship/Superheavy Max | 98 |
| Brightline at 100′ | 95 |
| Airpods on 5/10 | 94 |
| Titusville – Starship/Superheavy Max | 93 |
| Cocoa Beach – Starship/Superheavy Max | 92 |
| Rockledge – Starship/Superheavy Max | 90 |
| Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss | 80-90 |
| City Traffic | 85 |
| Many household appliances | 80 |
| Chamber music, in a small auditorium | 75-85 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 75 |
| Normal conversation | 60-70 |
| Business Office | 60-65 |
| Household refrigerator | 55 |
| Suburban area at night | 40 |
| Whisper | 25 |
| Quiet natural area with no wind | 20 |
| Threshold of hearing | 0 |
Sustained Exposure Hearing Loss: the common benchmark for this threshold is an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to 85 dBA on a repeated basis. The time exposure for a Starship launch will be measured in minutes.
During operations, the rocket’s emissions are expected to exceed federal insignificance thresholds for nitrogen oxides. The Air Force and SpaceX plan to use an adaptive management strategy, reviewing new data as operations ramp up.
Minimal Impacts Across Other Categories
The review found:
| Category | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Traffic | Increases during construction and launch days are manageable. |
| Local Wildlife | Southeastern beach mouse and Florida scrub-jay will be protected through relocation and habitat restoration plans. |
| Water Resources | Wetlands will see construction impacts, but all fall under federal permitting and mitigation requirements. |
| Historic Sites | Expected to remain unaffected, with ongoing monitoring for potential noise-related impacts. |
| Marine Areas | No long-term closures; only short safety zones during launches. |
Source: SpaceX Starship/Superheavy CCSFS Final Environmental Impact Statement (PDF)
Overall, the report concludes that the project can proceed without causing significant long-term environmental harm, provided mitigation measures remain in place.
What Comes Next
The Air Force must still issue its Record of Decision, and the FAA will release its own determination before any Starship launches or landings take place at the site. Airspace-closure details are still being finalized, with additional FAA analysis expected. At the same time, this was one of the major hurdles the SpaceX project had to clear on its way to becoming a reality.
When approved, the redevelopment of SLC-37 would position Cape Canaveral as a major operational hub for Starship activity, supporting national security missions, commercial flights, and NASA needs. SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility will work in tandem with the SpaceX Eastern Range facility to support the giant spacecraft.
As a company, SpaceX moves quickly. Once approved, it is unlikely the company will delay construction at LC-37, and once started, the work will proceed rapidly until the facility is ready for its initial use. In Boca Chica, SpaceX has constructed Starship launch and landing facilities in months, as opposed to the multi-year efforts NASA has had with SLS. It is reasonable to expect much the same here in Florida.
Oddly, SLC-37 may not be the first Starship pad to enter service on the Space Coast. Given its construction lead, that distinction is likely to go to LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The FAA is still finalizing its Environmental Impact Study for that facility, but SpaceX has been steadily constructing its Starship launch pad on the KSC site.
Author: Charles Boyer
NASA kid from Cocoa Beach, FL, born of Project Apollo parents and family. I’m a writer and photographer sharing the story of spaceflight from the Eastern Range here in Florida.
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