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.
Rocket Lab Electron lifts off in December 2025. Photo: Chris Leymaries
2026 promises to be the most transformative year in American spaceflight since the Apollo era. From Artemis II astronauts circling the Moon to the first commercial space stations, here’s what’s coming.
The Department of the Air Force has officially signed off on a plan that lets SpaceX redevelop Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral SFS for Starship and Super Heavy operations. Their Record of Decision lays out how the company can rebuild the pad, transport hardware, and eventually fly and land the massive booster and ship right here on the Space Coast.
Uranus, via the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: ESA
Space X’s massive Starship has been designed with the capacity to boost up to 150 tons into low-Earth orbit, far more than rockets currently in common use. With its success, the potential for launching larger payloads — whether cargo, satellites, or entire interplanetary spacecraft — becomes more tantalizing to deep space mission designers looking to explore other planets and asteroids.
Remote cameras set up, the press and spectators await t-0 and liftoff from Boca Chica for Starship Flight 11.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now
Flight 11 was the final launch of the Block 2 variant of Starship. That mission was promising, and both the Booster and Starship survived and splashed down successfully to their respective targets.
Following this mission, SpaceX won’t be launching Starship for a hot minute, taking some time to make some significant changes to both their facilities at Starbase and the launch vehicles.
Starship Flight 11 lifts off from Boca Chica, Texas this eveningPhoto: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now SpaceX launched its eleventh integrated flight of the Starship and Super Heavy booster system on Monday evening from Boca Chica…
SpaceX is set to launch Starship Flight 11 today from its Boca Chica, Texas, facility, on a test flight that potentially carries major implications for Florida’s Space Coast. As the company eyes future Starship operations from…
After significant setbacks during recent Starship missions, SpaceX rebounded and completed nearly all of its objectives during Starship’s 10th test flight. SpaceX had been trying to launch the mission for the past several days, but…
SpaceX is targeting as early as Sunday, August 24th for the next flight of Starship from Starbase, Texas. SpaceX will be launching Starship for the first time since Starship 36 exploded during static fire testing at Massey’s in June. Starship 37 and Super Heavy Booster 16 will be used for the flight test.
Starship ascents skyward. Image by Richard P Gallagher | FMN
Starbase, Texas — SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on May 27, 2025, at 6:36 p.m. CDT from its Starbase facility in Texas for the ninth integrated flight test (IFT-9) of the vehicle. The mission, using Ship 35 and Booster 14-2, marked the first reflight of a Super Heavy booster but encountered significant challenges, including the loss of both stages, as SpaceX continues to refine the reusable launch system for lunar and Martian missions.
The objectives of IFT-9 included reusing Booster 14-2, previously flown on Flight 7, deploying eight Starlink mass simulators, testing an in-space Raptor engine relight, and achieving a controlled reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The mission also aimed to address issues from Flights 7 and 8, which ended in upper stage failures, and to conduct experiments on the booster under off-nominal conditions, such as a higher angle of attack during descent to reduce propellant use.
Ship 35 and Super Heavy Booster 14-2 being prepared for stacking in preparation for IFT-9. Image by Richard P Gallagher | FMN
Boca Chica, Texas – SpaceX is set to launch its ninth Starship integrated flight test (IFT-9) no earlier than May 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. CT from the Starbase facility in South Texas. This mission, featuring the Block 2 Starship (Ship 35) and a reused Super Heavy Booster (Booster 14-2), aims to address issues from the explosive failures of Flights 7 and 8 while testing new objectives for the reusable launch vehicle. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved license modifications for the flight on May 15, 2025, though the Flight 8 mishap investigation remains ongoing.
After weeks of changed notices, SpaceX has publicly announced May 27th as the launch date for their next Starship mission. Officially, their launch window is open 6:30pm to 8:00pm CDT. As of now, they have backup…
