Artemis

Artemis II, earlier this month at Kennedy Space Center
Photo: Charles Boyer

NASA is moving ahead with a second wet dress rehearsal, or WDR-2, for the Artemis II mission. Launch controllers will take their positions in the Launch Control Center at 6:40 PM ET tonight (Feb. 17), kicking off a nearly 50-hour countdown sequence. The simulated launch window opens at 8:30 PM on February 19th and extends four hours.

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artemis II Photo by Charles Boyer
artemis II Photo by Charles Boyer
Artemis II
Photo by Charles Boyer

When NASA wrapped up the first Artemis II wet dress rehearsal on February 3 at Kennedy Space Center, they had successfully filled the SLS rocket’s tanks with cryogenic propellant. That was the good news, but the less welcome bad news was that the test revealed higher-than-allowable hydrogen gas leaks at the Tail Service Mast Unit on the launch pad. Obviously, those leaks must be repaired before a launch attempt.

NASA Stream from the first Wet Dress Rehearsal indicated full LH2 and LOX tanks on SLS. Credit: NASA

The Work For WDR-2 Started As Soon As WDR-1 Was Completed

Not long after propellant draining was complete after WDR-1, technicians began working to access the TSMU umbilical. They detached both the rocket-side and ground-side interface plates to inspect the area where elevated hydrogen levels were detected, and replaced seals around two fueling lines.

The two tail service masts — each about three stories tall — provide the cryogenic propellant lines and electrical cable connections to the SLS core stage. They tilt back before launch and include “quick disconnects” — mechanisms that instantaneously detach at liftoff to ensure safe retraction.

Reconnecting the interfaces is expected to be complete by Monday, Feb. 9. Engineers are still evaluating the root cause of the leak, and the removed seals are being analyzed. NASA also plans additional testing at Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to evaluate the dynamics of the interface plates. Engineers are reviewing options to verify the repair before committing to the next full wet dress rehearsal.

Repairs For WDR-2

Here’s a breakdown of the repairs underway and the operational changes NASA is making for WDR-2:

Five Key Changes for the Next Rehearsal
Five Key Changes for the Next Rehearsal
Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal  |  Kennedy Space Center
Type Change Details
Hardware Fix Two seals replaced Seals replaced around fueling lines at the tail service mast umbilical where hydrogen concentrations exceeded allowable levels. Removed seals are being analyzed and additional plate dynamics testing is planned at Stennis.
Operations Orion hatch closed before test The crew module hatch will be sealed prior to the rehearsal. The closeout crew — who on launch day help astronauts into their seats and close both Orion hatches — will not be deployed to the pad.
Operations Crew access arm stays extended The arm will not be retracted during the next rehearsal. Engineers successfully demonstrated during the Feb. 3 test that the ground launch sequencer can retract it during the final countdown phase, so that objective is already complete.
Timeline One extra hour in countdown NASA has added 30 minutes of extra hold time at each of two planned holds — one before and one after tanking operations — to allow more time for troubleshooting. The total countdown is now one hour longer. This does not affect the crew’s launch-day timeline.
Focus Shift Rehearsal focused on fueling With the crew access arm retraction and other pad objectives already demonstrated, the next WDR will concentrate on tanking operations and verifying the hydrogen leak repair.

Source: NASA, “NASA Conducts Repairs, Analysis Ahead of Next Artemis II Fueling Test,” Feb. 8, 2026

NASA continues to eye March as the next potential launch opportunity but will not set a targeted launch date until after completing a successful wet dress rehearsal and reviewing the data. The critical second WDR is set to start as soon as this Friday, February 13th.

Artemis II at LC-39B Photo: Charles Boyer
Artemis II at LC-39B
Photo: Charles Boyer
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Mars. Credit: NASA

Maybe Elton John was right when he sang in his hit “Rocket Man” that “Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kid.” As humanity moves closer and closer to astronauts and colonists living off of the Earth, pregnancy and childbirth are inevitable. A new study looks at the subject and it raises some interesting risks as well as a call for more research.

Published February 3 in Reproductive BioMedicine Online, a new review, “Reproductive biomedicine in space: implications for gametogenesis, fertility and ethical considerations in the era of commercial spaceflight,” brings together nine international experts in reproductive health, aerospace medicine, and bioethics to consider the issue.

Their central finding is stark: despite more than 65 years of human spaceflight, remarkably little is known about how the space environment affects the reproductive systems of men and women during long-duration missions.

“More than 50 years ago, two scientific breakthroughs reshaped what was thought biologically and physically possible — the first Moon landing and the first proof of human fertilisation in vitro,” said lead author Giles Palmer, a clinical embryologist at the International IVF Initiative. “Now we argue that these once-separate revolutions are colliding in a practical and underexplored reality.”

Three Potential Threats

The review identifies a triad of hazards. Cosmic radiation is the most well-characterized: beyond Earth’s protective magnetosphere, astronauts are exposed to galactic cosmic rays and high-energy charged particles that current shielding cannot fully block.

Doses exceeding approximately 250 milliSieverts can disrupt sperm production, and chronic exposure may impair the hormonal signaling that governs testosterone and sperm quality. (The average dose on ISS is 13 to 27 millisieverts (mSv) per month.) For women, animal studies link radiation to menstrual disruption and elevated cancer risk, though reliable human data from long missions remains scarce.

Microgravity introduces a separate set of problems. Weightlessness removes a fundamental mechanical cue that influences hormonal regulation, gamete development, and early embryonic growth. Animal studies have shown decreased sperm motility, increased DNA fragmentation, and disrupted development under microgravity conditions. Notably, a complete mammalian reproductive cycle — from egg and sperm development through birth — has never been achieved in space.

Circadian disruption rounds out the triad. Astronauts on the ISS experience roughly 16 sunrises every 24 hours. On Earth, similar disruptions in shift workers are linked to menstrual irregularities, reduced fertility, and poor pregnancy outcomes. The molecular clock genes active in reproductive tissues are known to impair ovulation when thrown out of sync.

Data from the Space Shuttle era offers some reassurance: female astronauts’ subsequent pregnancy rates were comparable to age-matched women on Earth. But those missions were far shorter than what’s now planned for lunar and Mars exploration, and male reproductive outcomes in space remain poorly documented. Clearly, more study is needed.

Ethical Questions Remain

The review raises ethical questions that reach beyond medical risk. If a child were conceived and born under lunar or Martian gravity, their skeletal and muscular development would differ fundamentally from Earth-born humans. Such an individual might be physically unable to live under terrestrial gravity — a scenario the authors frame as one of the most profound considerations of the coming era.

“As human presence in space expands, reproductive health can no longer remain a policy blind spot,” said senior author Dr. Fathi Karouia, a research scientist at NASA. He called for international collaboration to close knowledge gaps before commercial and long-duration missions make these questions unavoidable.

Source
Palmer GA, Mathyk BA, Jones JA, et al. “Reproductive biomedicine in space: implications for gametogenesis, fertility and ethical considerations in the era of commercial spaceflight.” Reproductive BioMedicine Online, published online February 3, 2026.
DOI:  10.1016/j.rbmo.2025.105431

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Artemis II at LC-39B on February 1, 2026
Photo: Charles Boyer

Teams at Kennedy Space Center conducted and mostly completed a critical Wet Dress Rehearsal for the launch of the Artemis II rocket and ground support teams yesterday. The test was not without problems: Hydrogen leaks at the tail mast area of the pad and an issue closing Orion’s hatches bedeviled the tests, resulting in NASA announcing that the launch of the Artemis II mission is now no earlier than March 6, 2026.

“The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal countdown was terminated at the T-5:15 minute mark due to a liquid hydrogen leak at the interface of the tail service mast umbilical, which had experienced high concentrations of liquid hydrogen earlier in the countdown, as well,” NASA said.

A view of the Tail Mast and the retractable Liquid Hydrogen feed lines for SLS. Photo: NASA

In a press conference today, Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said, “When we got into the LH2 fast fill—which was around 12:29—is when we picked up our first leak in the SMU, in the cavity, which is where the flight and the ground plate come together. It’s that cavity in between. It’s in our eight-inch fill and drain line there. We have a QD that connects those two together.”

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson in today’s NASA press conference. Via NASA livestream

“It was similar to some of the signatures we saw during Artemis I. Our leak rate was a little bit higher—somewhere around 12 to 14%,” Blackwell-Thompson continued. “We tried a contingency procedure that we used during Artemis I: you let that QD warm up, you let the seal warm up, and you try it again. We did that a couple of times, worked our way through it, and were able to load the core stage all the way to replenish.”

When asked what items were missed in the Wet Dress Rehearsal, Blackwell-Thompson said, “What we didn’t get to do: we wanted to get through terminal count. We wanted to get inside terminal count, hold, and verify our three-minute hold capability—tanks in launch-ready state and you can hold them for up to three minutes.”

“We also wanted to demonstrate a recycle: come down, have a planned cutoff, come back and retarget a new T-0 within the launch window. Didn’t get a chance to do that.”

What’s Next

Before the March window, NASA’s engineers and mission managers will review data, equipment and procedures from the WDR yesterday and they will conduct a second Wet Dress Rehearsal before committing to a launch date. Of key interest are the Tail Mast interfaces that deliver LH2 to the rocket’s propellant tanks.

“With the conclusion of the wet dress rehearsal today, we are moving off the February launch window and targeting March for the earliest possible launch of Artemis II,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said today. “With more than three years between SLS launches, we fully anticipated encountering challenges. That is precisely why we conduct a wet dress rehearsal. These tests are designed to surface issues before flight and set up launch day with the highest probability of success.”

Remaining Launch Windows

ARTEMIS II MISSION AVAILABILITY – SPRING 2026

(Subject to Adjustments)

March 2026

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April 2026

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Launch Window Available
Launch Window Opening Window
Date Local Time UTC Lighting Mins
Mar 6 8:29 PM EST Mar 7, 01:29 2.05 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 7 8:57 PM EST Mar 8, 01:57 2.51 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 8 10:56 PM EDT Mar 9, 02:56 3.48 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 9 11:52 PM EDT Mar 10, 03:52 4.40 hrs after sunset 120
Mar 10 12:48 AM EDT Mar 10, 04:48 5.36 hrs after sunset 115
Apr 1 6:24 PM EDT Apr 1, 22:24 1.28 hrs before sunset 120
Apr 3 8:00 PM EDT Apr 4, 00:00 0.30 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 4 8:53 PM EDT Apr 5, 00:53 1.17 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 5 9:40 PM EDT Apr 6, 01:40 1.95 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 6 10:36 PM EDT Apr 7, 02:36 2.87 hrs after sunset 120
Apr 30 6:06 PM EDT Apr 30, 22:06 1.86 hrs before sunset 120

↔ Scroll table on mobile

As of: February 3, 2026 at 8:32 AM EST

The Good and The Bad

A liquid hydrogen leak at the LC-39B’s Tail Mast umbilical connection to SLS’s core stage forced engineers into a troubleshooting effort that pushed the countdown about two hours behind schedule. The team cycled through several repair attempts, first halting LH2 flow, then letting the interface warm so seals could seat themselves properly, and finally by tweaking propellant flow rates before pressing ahead. Ultimately, they were successful in their efforts and got the 322-foot tall rocket fully fueled, but a great deal of time was lost during the effort.

NASA graphic from their livestream indicated that SLS was fully loaded with propellant by 5:45 PM ET

Secondly, a recently replaced valve tied to Orion’s crew hatch pressurization system needed to be retorqued, and closeout work ran longer than expected. NASA stated around 10 PM last night that, “The closeout crew remains in the White Room and has closed the Orion spacecraft’s crew module hatch. While performing seal pressurization checks on the counterbalance assembly, which could be used to help open the hatch, a valve associated with Orion’s hatch pressurization was inadvertently vented. The counterbalance assembly then needed to be repressurized to allow work to continue.”

Finally, communications issues from SLS to ground caused some issues and will need to be remediated prior to the next Wet Dress Rehearsal, much less any launch attempt in March.

Clearly, there’s some work to do before Artemis II will be ready to fly.

The Artemis II crew has been released from quarantine for the time being. Once a new potential launch date becomes clearer, they will return to quarantine and fly to Kennedy Space Center for final preparations prior to launch.

NASA has scheduled a 1 PM ET press conference to offer more details.

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Artemis II stands tall in the chilly air on February 1st, 2026
Photo: Charles Boyer

The countdown for the Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal is underway at Kennedy Space Center. Yesterday at 8:13 PM ET, or L-48:40 hours, the simulated countdown began in preparation for a test launch window opening at 9 PM tomorrow, February 2nd.

Artemis II will not launch during this countdown, of course, as it is just a test countdown. The Artemis II crew will not be aboard during Orion the WDR.

Sometime around 1 AM ET Tuesday, or February 3rd, the WDR will conclude.

What Comes After The WDR

After the test cycle concludes, engineers and mission managers will review data gathered during the Wet Dress Rehearsal. This process may take a few days as each major system is reviewed. Since Artemis I, NASA has implemented changes to the liquid Hydrogen systems at LC-39B. That will be a particular area of concern, as H2 leaks bedeviled the Artemis I countdowns both in WDR and later on the night it launched.

After the Data Review, a Flight Readiness Review can be held, during which all aspects of the mission are reviewed: the SLS rocket, the Orion spacecraft, ground systems at the Cape, and the status of the recovery teams that would be first responders to a major anomaly, should one occur, and many others.

The FRR is last major review for the flight, and in it, the Artemis II management team will need to give the mission permission to proceed towards a launch. Only after that milestone is achieved will a launch date and time be announced by NASA.

Artemis II on the launch mount at LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center
Photo: Charles Boyer

The Wet Dress Rehearsal In Detail

L-49 Hours, 15 Minutes and Counting
TimeActivity
L-49H 15M Launch team arrives on stations; countdown begins
L-48H 40M Countdown clock begins
L-48H 45M – L-39H 45M LOX/LH2 system preparations for vehicle loading
L-47H 30M – L-38H 30M Fill water tank for sound suppression system
L-40H 30M – L-39H Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) powered up
L-39H 30M – L-38H 45M Core stage powered up
L-38H 45M – L-34H 30M Final preparations of four RS-25 engines
L-34 Hours, 30 Minutes and Counting
TimeActivity
L-33H 45M – L-33H 10M ICPS powered down
L-32H 30M – L-28H 30M Charge Orion flight batteries to 100%
L-30H 30M – L-23H 30M Charge core stage flight batteries
L-19H 30M – L-16H Orion crew suit regulator leak checks
L-19H 15M – L-17H 45M ICPS powered up for launch
L-15 Hours and Counting
TimeActivity
L-14H 30M – L-13H All non-essential personnel leave Launch Complex 39B
L-13H 15M – L-11H 05M Air-to-GN2 changeover and vehicle cavity inerting
L-12H 45M – L-11H 15M Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) activation
L-11 Hours, 40 Minutes and Counting
TimeActivity
L-11H 35M – L-9H 20M Built-in hold: 2 hours, 15 minutes
L-11H 40M – L-10H 30M Weather and tanking briefing
L-10H 20M Go/No-Go decision to begin tanking
L-10H 20M – L-9H Orion cold soak
L-10H 10M – L-9H 50M Core stage LOX transfer line chilldown
L-10H 10M – L-9H 25M Core stage LH2 chilldown
L-10 Hours and Counting
TimeActivity
L-9H 50M – L-9H 10M Core stage LOX main propulsion system chilldown
L-9H 25M – L-9H Core stage LH2 slow fill start
L-9H 20M Resume T-Clock from T-8H 10M
L-9H 10M – L-8H 55M Core stage LOX slow fill
L-9H – L-7H 40M Core stage LH2 fast fill
L-8H 55M – L-6H 10M Core stage LOX fast fill
L-8H 45M – L-8H 10M ICPS LH2 chilldown
L-8H 10M – L-7H 25M ICPS LH2 fast fill start
L-7H 45M – L-6H ICPS LOX main propulsion system chilldown
L-7H 40M – L-7H 30M Core stage LH2 topping
L-7H 30M – terminal Core stage LH2 replenish
L-7H 25M – L-7H 05M ICPS LH2 vent and relief test
L-7H 05M – L-6H 55M ICPS LH2 tank topping start
L-6H 50M – terminal ICPS LH2 replenish
L-6H 10M – L-5H 40M Orion communications system activated (RF to Mission Control)
L-6H 10M – L-5H 40M Core stage LOX topping
L-6 Hours and Counting
TimeActivity
L-6H – L-5H 15M ICPS LOX fast fill
L-5H 40M – terminal Core stage LOX replenish
L-5H 40M Stage pad rescue; closeout crew assemble
L-5H 15M – L-5H ICPS LOX vent and relief test
L-5H – L-4H 40M ICPS LOX topping
L-4H 40M – terminal ICPS LOX replenish; all stages replenish
L-4H 40M Built-in hold: 40 minutes
L-4H 40M – L-4H 25M Closeout crew to white room
L-4H 30M – L-4H 20M Crew Module hatch preps and closure
L-4H 20M – L-3H 20M Counterbalance mechanism hatch seal/press decay checks
L-3H 20M – L-2H 40M Crew Module hatch service panel install/closeouts
L-2H 40M – L-2H 20M Launch Abort System (LAS) hatch closure for flight
L-1H 45M – L-1H 40M Closeout crew departs Launch Complex 39B
L-1H 10M Launch Director brief – Flight vehicle/TPS scan results with CICE
L-40 Minutes and Holding
TimeActivity
L-40M Built-in hold: 30 minutes
L-25 Minutes and Holding
TimeActivity
L-25M Transition team to Orion-to-Earth comm loop following final NTD briefing
L-16M Launch Director polls team for “Go” for launch
T-10 Minutes – Terminal Count
TimeActivity
T-10M Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) initiates terminal count
T-8M Crew Access Arm retract
T-6M GLS go for core stage tank pressurization; Orion set to internal power
T-5M 57S Core stage LH2 terminate replenish
T-4M GLS go for core stage APU start; APU starts; Core stage LOX terminate replenish
T-3M 30S ICPS LOX terminate replenish
T-3M 10S GLS go for purge sequence 4
T-2M 02S ICPS switches to internal battery power
T-2M Booster switches to internal battery power
T-1M 30S Core stage switches to internal power; hold for 3-minute certification hold time verification
T-1M 20S ICPS enters terminal countdown mode
T-50S ICPS LH2 terminate replenish
T-33S GLS sends “Go for Automated Launch Sequencer” command; GLS Cutoff/Recycle
Terminal Count Hold Rules:
  • Teams can hold at T-6M for the duration of the launch window (minus 6 minutes) without recycling.
  • Between T-6M and T-1M 30S: holds up to 3 minutes can resume; longer holds recycle to T-10M.
  • After T-1M 30S but before automated sequencer: recycle to T-10M if window permits.
  • After automated sequencer handover: any stop concludes the launch attempt for that day.

Source: Countdown Begins for Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal, NASA, January 31, 2026.

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playalinda beach
playalinda beach
Playalinda Beach

The National Park Service has released an update concerning the status of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge during launch campaign for Artemis II

Playalinda Beach Hours Update – January 30, 2026

The National Park Service released this statement yesterday. Playalinda Beach is apparently now closed for the duration of the Artemis II launch campaign in February.

Attention Canaveral National Seashore Visitors

“Titusville—Canaveral National Seashore will be temporarily changing operating hours in the Playalinda District (Titusville) to support NASA and the Artemis II launch.

Beginning January 12th, Playalinda Beach operating hours will be 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. through January 30th.

Beginning January 31st through until the day of a successful launch, the entire Playalinda Beach District will be closed.

The seashore will resume normal operating hours (6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) the day after Artemis II successfully launches.”

For up-to-date information, visit the park’s Facebook and Instagram: @canaveralnatlseashore

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Update – January 30, 2026

As for MINWR, it looks like most of the site will be closed from February 8th, except for the north end up by the Mid-Course Radar Site and Haulover Bridge — far from any optimal view of the launch.

Attention Merritt Island NWR Visitors

“Kennedy Space Center security has informed us that they will close the roads leading into the Refuge at 4:30AM on Sunday 2/8. Only badged employees will be allowed to enter through the west entrance adjacent to Parrish Park and the Max Brewer Bridge. The Haulover canal bridge will also be raised, preventing access south of the canal. Those who enter by boat through the Haulover Canal will find the Mosquito Lagoon closed south of the canal. Conservation officers will be on the water enforcing this closure. These closures are for safety reasons.”

For up-to-date information, visit the refuge’s Facebookpage

The West Entrance to Kennedy Space Center on Beach Road.

Also worth noting:

Jan 17 – Feb 6 (or until launch):
The south gate of BioLab Road will remain closed. Vehicular traffic will be restricted at the intersection of BioLab Road and Max Hoeck Road/Trail.

Stay Tuned

It’s important to keep in mind that these dates and times will be updated often depending on when Artemis II is slated to launch. Consult the following pages for the most up to date information:

Canaveral National Seashore – Playlinda – National Park Service

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge – National Park Service

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Artist’s rendering of Starship on its launch mount at LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center

The 50,000 foot view

The Federal Aviation Administration released the Final Environmental Impact Statement and its Record of Decision regarding the matter this morning. The Record of Decision approves SpaceX to operate Starship-Super Heavy at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, clearing the final major regulatory hurdle for the company’s next-generation launch vehicle on Florida’s Space Coast.

Now, SpaceX needs to complete the build out its infrastructure at LC-39A, relocate Starship flight hardware from Boca Chica, Texas to KSC, and obtain the necessary FAA launch license(s) to launch the 408.1 feet (124.4 meter) tall rocket. It will be the most powerful rocket to ever launch from the Eastern Range, eclipsing the venerable Saturn V, New Glenn and even SLS Block I.

The decision authorizes up to 44 Starship-Super Heavy launches and 88 landings annually—44 each for the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage. Ocean landings on droneships in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans are also permitted.

The approval follows a 16-month environmental review process that began with a Notice of Intent published in May 2024, included multiple public comment periods, and culminated in the Final Environmental Impact Statement released today.

FAA Record of Decision: SpaceX Starship at LC-39A Kennedy Space Center • Signed Jan 29, 2026
Category Details
🚀 Approved Operations
Annual Limits Approved
44 launches • 88 landings (44 Super Heavy + 44 Starship) • 88 static fires
  • Super Heavy: LC-39A catch or Atlantic Ocean droneship/expendable
  • Starship: LC-39A, Atlantic/Pacific/Indian Ocean droneship or water landing
Infrastructure Approved
~800,000 sq ft improvements: launch mount, catch tower, propellant generation (methane liquefier, air separation unit), storage tanks, deluge ponds, water system (~518,000 L/launch)
⚠️ Significant Environmental Effects
Emissions Significant
NOx: 385.66 tons/yr (54% over threshold, 4.35% of Brevard County)
GHG: 217,354 MT CO2e/yr (319% over threshold, 2.81% of county)
Noise Significant
Sonic booms exceed 60 dB CDNL on 28,595 acres off-KSC • Up to 82% awakening probability at night • Outdoor levels exceed 97 dB max at locations outside KSC/CCSFS
Air Traffic Significant
Avg delay: ~40 min (up to 2 hrs) • Ground stops at Core 30 FL airports • Coordination with Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, Central America, Cuba
🚧 Access Restrictions
Closures Tests: ~396 hrs/yr (4.5%) • Launches/reentries: ~462 hrs/yr (5.3%) • Total: ~10% of year (half day/half night)
NPS revenue impact: $239K–$423K/yr (13–24% loss to Canaveral National Seashore)
🐢 Wildlife Conditions (USFWS)
Training & Surveys Required
All personnel: wildlife training before onsite work (species ID, sea turtle/scrub-jay/indigo snake/manatee protocols) • Pre-construction biological surveys required • Lighting Operations Manual for sea turtle season
Manatee Required
Dedicated observer on vessels in Indian River Lagoon • 50 ft minimum distance • ≤10 knots where observed • No wake/idle near docks
📊 Required Monitoring
Species Monitoring
Scrub-jay: 70% banded in 1 yr, 90% in 3 yrs; census pre/post breeding
Sea turtle: Mar 1–Oct 31; 8 light surveys/yr; all hawksbill/Kemp’s ridley/leatherback nests monitored
Beach mouse: Habitat use, survival, reproduction, population density
Physical Monitoring
Noise: 3 events each for SH/Starship static fires, launches, landings (15 total)
Vibration: Loggers at 0.3 mi, 15″ deep; min 3 launches
🐋 Marine Conditions (NMFS)
Distance & Vessel Required
Activities ≥5 nm from coast (≥1 nm within 50 mi of LC-39A) • No coral reef landings • Dedicated observer on recovery ops • 300 ft from mammals, 150 ft from turtles • ≤10 kts near mother/calf
Right Whale Required
1,500 ft minimum distance • Nov–Apr: SH and Starship cannot both land in critical habitat same flight • No landings in active Slow/Dynamic Mgmt Areas • Flight reports within 30 days until full reusability
🏛️ Historic Preservation (NHPA)
Structures Monitoring
9 structures monitored through first 5 launches + 5 SH landings + 1 Starship landing: St. Gabriel’s Church, Pritchard House, Walker Apts (Titusville); Cocoa Jr High, Aladdin Theater (Cocoa); Cape Canaveral Lighthouse (CCSFS); John Sams House, St. Luke’s Church (Merritt Island); Beach House (KSC)
Programmatic Agreement executed Nov 22, 2025 with FL SHPO & Seminole Tribe
📋 Public Notice & Coordination
Notifications Launch schedules via news outlets, KSC SIMS, NASASpaceflight.com, Florida Today app, Brevard County Emergency Mgmt
Claims Property damage: insurance@spacex.com (SpaceX carries insurance per Commercial Space Launch Act)
Annual Meetings Required
USFWS: Jan 1–31 annually (NASA, SpaceX, FAA, USFWS, NPS, USSF) • NHPA: November annually
Record of Decision: SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy at LC-39A, KSC | Signed: Jan 29, 2026 by Katie L. Cranor, FAA | FAA Project Page

Milestones To Launching Starship From Kennedy Space Center

Updated today:

SpaceX Starship Approval Milestones: LC-39A Kennedy Space Center • FAA Environmental Impact Statement & Launch License Process
Status Milestone Date Details
Complete Notice of Intent PublishedFAA May 10, 2024 FAA initiated the EIS process via Federal Register publication
Complete Public Scoping PeriodFAA May–Jun 2024 Public input gathered on scope of environmental review; ended June 24, 2024
Complete Draft EIS ReleasedFAA Aug 4, 2025 Draft EIS published for up to 44 launches and 44 landings per year
Complete Draft EIS Comment PeriodFAA Aug 4–Sep 29, 2025 Hearings at KSC (Aug 26), Cape Canaveral (Aug 28), virtual (Sept 3); view comments
Complete Final EIS PublicationFAA Jan 30, 2026 Final EIS published addressing all public comments
Complete Record of Decision (ROD)FAA Jan 30, 2026 ROD issued with decision, mitigations, and monitoring requirements
Ongoing Infrastructure CompletionSpaceX Mid-2026 (proj.) Launch mount (installed Nov 2025), tank farm, deluge system, chopstick upgrades
Pending Vehicle Operator LicenseFAA Expected 2026 New or modified launch license for Starship-Super Heavy at LC-39A; FAA project page
Upcoming First Starship LaunchSpaceX 2026 (targeted) Initial vehicles transported from Starbase, Texas via barge
Lead Agency: FAA | Cooperating: NASA, Dept. of Air Force, Coast Guard, Fish & Wildlife, National Park Service | Updated: Jan 30, 2026

FAA Documents

The original documents are at the FAA’s Project Website, located here

Executive Summary

SpaceX-SSH-LC-39A-Final-EIS_Executive-SummaryDownload

Record of Decision

SpaceX-SSH-LC-39A-Final-EIS-RODDownload

For those who are interested in reading the minutiae of the Decision, here is a list of links to all available documents:

Final EIS Documents: SpaceX Starship at LC-39A Kennedy Space Center • Published January 30, 2026
The electronic versions of the Final EIS and ROD are available for download from the FAA website.
Source: FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation | All documents in PDF format
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