A lunar-lander version of Starship in development is a key element of NASA’s Artemis mission to land Americans back on the moon in a space race with the Chinese. And an even larger version of the 403-foot-tall rocket is seen as a foundation for SpaceX’s future commercial launch business.
In pursuit of its goals, SpaceX is seeking to increase the launch frequency of Starship at its Texas test site and of its Falcon 9 reusable rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base — but is facing opposition over environmental issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration this year approved a request by SpaceX to increase the number of its Starship test flights at its South Texas launchpad to 25. A coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging the government failed to conduct a full environmental review of the launches, but that lawsuit was dismissed this month. The Center for Biological Diversity told The Times that it is assessing its options, including an appeal. SpaceX paid nearly $500,000 this year to resolve Environmental Protection Agency allegations that it discharged cooling water after launches and engine tests into nearby wetlands.