FAA pushes back completion of SpaceX environmental review in South Texas

The Federal Aviation Administration is now targeting March 28 for completing the environmental review of SpaceX activities in South Texas. The FAA, which issues commercial launch licenses, is leading an environmental review into if/how the Super Heavy rocket and Starship spacecraft could affect Boca Chica, an area outside of Brownsville where SpaceX is developing these vehicles.

Super Heavy and Starship cannot launch into orbit until this review is completed. The environmental review was supposed to be done by the end of last year. It was delayed to the end of this month, and then on Monday the FAA said it's targeting the end of next month. More than 19,000 public comments were received on the draft environmental review. In addition, the FAA is consulting and coordinating with other agencies.