Photo: Charles Boyer
A final environmental assessment approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clears the path for SpaceX to build and operate a Falcon 9 rocket landing zone at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
NOTE: this is not either one of the two Starship EA currently underway for the Eastern Range.
The assessment also supports an increase in the number of annual Falcon 9 launches from SLC-40, raising the cap from 50 to 120 per year. The FAA’s decision, finalized in August 2025, comes after months of federal coordination, public comment, and technical review.
The document is below, and it can also be downloaded from the FAA website: SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations at Space Launch Complex-40.
FAA Approval Enables New Landing Zone, Expanded Launch Schedule
The FAA, acting as the lead federal agency, reviewed SpaceX’s proposal to both increase the number of Falcon 9 launches and construct a 400-foot-diameter concrete landing pad east of the SLC-40 pad. According to the final Environmental Assessment (EA), the FAA concluded that the project would not cause significant adverse environmental impacts.
With this approval, SpaceX may now move forward in seeking:
- A modification to its current launch license (LLO 18-105),
- A potential new launch license under 14 CFR Part 450, and
- Airspace closure approvals for each launch and landing.
The FAA emphasized that environmental clearance does not automatically guarantee license approval but does permit further steps toward that end.
Construction of the new landing zone will occur within a 10-acre lease boundary adjacent to the existing launch site. The landing zone includes a concrete pad, gravel apron, nitrogen gas line, processing pedestal, and associated infrastructure.
Figure 2-5. Proposed Landing Zone
Final Environmental Assessment 2-7 August 2025
Environmental Effects
Water & Wetlands
The final EA identified that the construction and operation of the new landing site will affect several protected habitats and species, notably the Florida scrub-jay and Southeastern beach mouse. In consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Biological Opinion concluded the project “is not likely to jeopardize” listed species or critical habitats, provided mitigation measures are followed. Those measures include habitat compensation and best management practices during construction.
Noise and Sonic Booms
Noise impacts—especially those resulting from rocket landings—were analyzed in detail. Falcon 9 landings at Cape Canaveral generate sonic booms, but the FAA determined that their frequency and intensity fall within previously analyzed limits. Up to 34 landings annually are expected to take place at the new SLC-40 site. Downrange ocean landings using drone ships will continue for the remainder.
The EA also confirmed that sonic boom pressure levels from the new landing zone would be comparable to existing operations at LZ-1 and LZ-2. Noise levels would be highest during landings but occur infrequently enough that they do not trigger significant regulatory thresholds under federal guidance.
Public Input
The FAA received more than 4,000 public comments during the review period for the draft EA. Public engagement included virtual meetings, local newspaper notices, and hard copies of the document being distributed to several Brevard County libraries.
According the FAA, most comments expressed support or posed technical questions, with at least one requesting that the FAA produce a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), citing concerns about cumulative effects and development intensity. The FAA opted to finalize the EA instead, citing that the expected impacts did not reach the threshold requiring a more extensive EIS process.
No substantial objections were raised by local municipalities or regulatory agencies. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for instance, found the project consistent with the Florida Coastal Management Program.
With the EA finalized and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) likely, the next phase will involve regulatory and operational coordination:
- FAA Licensing – SpaceX must receive formal approval to modify its current launch license or obtain a new one under updated regulations.
- Property Agreement – The Department of the Air Force must execute a real property agreement allowing SpaceX to lease and develop the LZ.
- Permitting – SpaceX will need a modified Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) from the state and a stormwater permit under the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
- Construction and Testing – Once approved, construction is expected to begin ahead of the LZ-1/2 license expiration in early 2026.
- Airspace Coordination – FAA will continue issuing Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), while the Coast Guard will support maritime safety operations during launches and landings.