The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday that it is advancing four commercial space environmental reviews for major launch vehicles slated to operate from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The agency issued a Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX’s Starship‑Super Heavy operations at Launch Complex‑37, and it is also reviewing Blue Origin’s New Glenn and Relativity Space’s Terran R proposals.
Starship review opens public comment
SpaceX is seeking permission to conduct up to 76 Starship launches and 152 landings per year, including return‑to‑launch‑site recoveries for both the Starship vehicle and its Super Heavy booster. The FAA’s notice invites public comment through October 14, 2026. A virtual public meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with registration required.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn expansion
Blue Origin has asked the FAA to increase its already‑approved cadence of 12 New Glenn launches per year to as many as 50. Don Platt, director of spaceport education at Florida Tech, noted that the company has only launched the vehicle three times so far and may be seeking licenses early to stay ahead of emerging competitors. “There may be other companies we don’t even know about that will be applying for licenses, and they don’t want to wait and say, ‘Oh, we got beat out because company X just got a license for 100 launches,’” Platt said.
The public comment period for the New Glenn request closes on Oct. 30, 2026, and a virtual meeting will be held at the same time as the Starship session.
Terran R receives supplemental assessment
The FAA also adopted the 2024 final Supplemental Environmental Assessment prepared by the U.S. Space Force for Relativity Space’s Terran R launch from Launch Complex‑16. Research chemist Ken Kremer called the vehicle “a new, unproven rocket” and emphasized the need for safety verification. The agency’s independent review resulted in a finding of no significant impact, but the FAA has not yet issued a vehicle operator license to Relativity.
Broader context for Florida’s space corridor
In addition to the three rockets, the FAA will evaluate 102 commercial space capsule re‑entries, reflecting the growing traffic in the nation’s busiest launch hub. The agency’s proactive stance aligns with President Trump’s emphasis on fostering American innovation while safeguarding the environment and local communities.
Stakeholders, including local businesses and residents, are encouraged to submit comments during the open periods. The FAA’s transparent process aims to balance economic opportunity with responsible stewardship of Florida’s coastal environment.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
