The fourth of four informational sessions regarding the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) ongoing Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for a potential launch pad at the Cape for SpaceX’s Starship will be held online tonight.
Meeting Link:
https://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/public-meetings/
Officials from the Department of the Air Force, the US Space Force, the Federal Aviation Administration, the US Coast Guard, NASA, and the US Coast Guard will be present to answer questions from members of the public who are interested in learning more about the DAF / SpaceX proposed action to lease SLC-37 to SpaceX once Delta IV Heavy launch activities conclude over the next several weeks, or to build a new launch pad between SLC-37 and SLC-40. That pad would be named Space Launch Complex 50, or SLC-50. Another option is no action, meaning no Starship launch activities from the Cape.
Option 1 at a Glance: Use Current SLC-37
Photo: Google Maps
Option 2 at a Glance: Build a New Launch Pad, SLC-50
Photo: Google Maps. Graphics: Talk of Titusville
In-Depth Looks
Below are two links that can provide much information about the Proposed Action. First, the official site for the EIS has a great deal of information, and in particular, a PDF file of the information displayed at the in-person meetings can be downloaded. The second is our informational article published earlier this month. In it, Talk of Titusville gives additional information regarding Starship, Starship’s propellant, the risk of pollution from them, and the Proposed Actions.
Official Site: Starship-Super Heavy Operations At Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Environmental Impact Statement
Talk of Titusville: The US Air Force Is Studying Space Coast Launch Pads For SpaceX Starship
Timeline:
After the final Public Meeting on March 12, a relatively quiet period will follow where studies will be conducted and a draft Environmental Impact Statement is created.
A Draft EIS is planned to be released in December 2024.