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The Federal Aviation Administration is soliciting public comments on its newly released “Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (EA) for SpaceX Starship Reentry Contingency Operations in the Pacific Ocean and Additional Starship Landing Trajectory.”
Under the proposed action, the FAA would modify SpaceX’s existing vehicle operator license for Starship launches to authorize test-flight trajectories and splashdown zones.”
The Starship splashdown zone for the last several Starship flights has been the Indian Ocean near Australia.
Specifically, the proposed action would involve “expansion of the previously evaluated Hawaii and Central Pacific Landing Area and Southeast Pacific Region Landing Area; addition of a new Northern Pacific Contingency Landing Area in the Northeast Pacific for an Eastern Range to Starbase trajectory; and authorization of temporary airspace closures associated with an additional Starship reentry trajectory to the Boca Chica Launch Site,” according to the FAA.
“The FAA invites interested parties to submit comments on the Draft Tiered EA,” according to the agency. “Public comments can be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-6968, or by postal mail to Ms. Amy Hanson, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, VA 20190. The public comment period for the Draft Tiered EA will close on July 27, 2026.”