SpaceX Starship spacecraft conditionally approved for environmental impact assessment by US regulators

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] SpaceX, the American space company led by Elon Musk, has received conditional environmental impact assessment approval from regulatory authorities ahead of the first orbital test flight of its Starship spacecraft, which is being developed for Mars exploration.

According to Bloomberg News on the 13th (local time), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the environmental impact assessment for the Starship launch program on the condition that SpaceX completes 75 pre-launch measures. The FAA announced that launching the Starship spacecraft from SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site in Texas would not have a significant impact on the surrounding environment.

However, the agency required SpaceX to complete 75 pre-launch measures to mitigate environmental impacts on nearby wildlife, plants, and fish. These measures include review by qualified biologists, prior notification to local residents regarding spacecraft engine noise and sonic booms (explosive sounds generated during supersonic flight), water resource protection measures, and control of biologically harmful substances.

Bloomberg evaluated that "the FAA's decision supports SpaceX's goal of sending spacecraft to Mars and the Moon," stating that a key obstacle has been overcome. However, Bloomberg added that passing this milestone is not the end, but only one step in the FAA approval process.

The FAA began investigating the program in November 2020 after SpaceX started building infrastructure near the Gulf of Mexico coast close to Brownsville, Texas. The FAA initially planned to release the environmental impact assessment results by the end of last year, but postponed the announcement multiple times due to concerns that the Starship spacecraft could endanger wetlands and wildlife near the Texas launch site.

SpaceX, preparing for the Starship orbital test flight within this year, issued a statement regarding the FAA's decision, saying, "We are one step closer to the first orbital flight."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.