A new TFR has been created, which now covers the entire City of Starbase.The TFR for the Massey's test site has also been increased from 2,000ft to 5,000 ft.These new TFRs are effective today and run until January 1st 2026.
Quote from: Jim on 07/01/2025 06:08 pmQuote from: dondar on 07/01/2025 03:20 pmQuote from: Jim on 06/30/2025 10:13 pmGood bye to get out of jail free card when it comes to permitting and such.they never had such card...and they couldn't get one in any circumstances. One of the consequences of being under the media loop 24/7.wrong. there was talk of the FAA being told to back offNo there is not, if you think there is, show your source.
Quote from: dondar on 07/01/2025 03:20 pmQuote from: Jim on 06/30/2025 10:13 pmGood bye to get out of jail free card when it comes to permitting and such.they never had such card...and they couldn't get one in any circumstances. One of the consequences of being under the media loop 24/7.wrong. there was talk of the FAA being told to back off
Quote from: Jim on 06/30/2025 10:13 pmGood bye to get out of jail free card when it comes to permitting and such.they never had such card...and they couldn't get one in any circumstances. One of the consequences of being under the media loop 24/7.
Good bye to get out of jail free card when it comes to permitting and such.
Quote from: thespacecow on 07/02/2025 06:03 amQuote from: Jim on 07/01/2025 06:08 pmQuote from: dondar on 07/01/2025 03:20 pmQuote from: Jim on 06/30/2025 10:13 pmGood bye to get out of jail free card when it comes to permitting and such.they never had such card...and they couldn't get one in any circumstances. One of the consequences of being under the media loop 24/7.wrong. there was talk of the FAA being told to back offNo there is not, if you think there is, show your source.Not specifically FAA but there washttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-anyone-investing-1-billion-us-will-receive-expedited-permits-2024-12-10/
This STA uses information from previous grant 0910-EX-ST-2025 and updates the location coordinates for the South Padre Island antenna. STA is necessary to authorize an additional power level for uplink frequencies 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz for the booster and ship on Starship Test Flight 11 launching from Starbase TX. This STA is necessary for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at SpaceX facilities located in Boca Chica TX.Operation Start Date: 09/01/2025Operation End Date: 03/01/2026
This STA uses information from grant 1395-EX-ST-2025 and adds static beams at the MegaBay South Padre Island antenna. STA is necessary to authorize an a static beam for uplink frequencies 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz for the booster and ship on Starship Test Flight 11 launching from Starbase TX. This STA is necessary for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at SpaceX facilities located in Boca Chica TX.Operation Start Date: 09/04/2025Operation End Date: 03/04/2026
* The Order directs the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, to eliminate or expedite environmental reviews for launch and reentry licenses and permits.* It also directs the Secretary of Transportation to review regulatory requirements to eliminate outdated, redundant, or overly restrictive rules for launch and reentry vehicles.* The Order instructs the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator of NASA, to evaluate State compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and whether States are hindering spaceport infrastructure development under the CZMA, or otherwise placing limitations on spaceport development that are inconsistent with Federal law.* It directs the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator of NASA to align their review processes to eliminate duplicative regulations and expedite spaceport development.* The Order mandates the creation of a streamlined process for authorizing novel space activities (missions not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks) with the goal of enabling American space competitiveness and superiority in new space-based industries.* The Order establishes a dedicated position in the Department of Transportation to advise on fostering innovation and deregulation in the commercial space industry, and directs the appointment of an Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation within the Federal Aviation Administration to drive regulatory reform.
Sec. 3. Reforming Regulatory Barriers to Commercial Launch and Reentry. (a) The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, shall, consistent with applicable law, use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite the Department of Transportation’s environmental reviews for, and other obstacles to the granting of, launch and reentry licenses and permits. Such measures shall include the exercise of authority by the Secretary of Transportation under 51 U.S.C. 50905(b)(2)(C) as applicable; determining which Department of Transportation functions are not subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and, as appropriate, establishing categorical exclusions under NEPA (or relying on existing categorical exclusions) for launch and reentry licenses and permits within certain parameters. ...(c) The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator of NASA shall, consistent with applicable law, use all available authorities to expedite their respective environmental and administrative reviews for authorizations, permits, approval, real property leases, and any other activity relevant to spaceport infrastructure development. The Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality shall coordinate with relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies) on the establishment of new categorical exclusions under NEPA for actions related to spaceport development that normally do not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Agencies shall, for purposes of establishing these categorical exclusions, rely on any sufficient basis to do so as each such agency determines.
Yay!!!! Thank you @POTUS Trump, @SecDuffyNASA, Sec @HowardLutnick, @SecDef Hegseth and all contributors for your work on this Executive Order!The commercial space industry is a great example of American innovation, an inspiration to the public and critical to supporting @NASA, national defense and our economy. Thank you again for this decisive action to streamline regulations and unleash our industry!
This STA uses information from previous grant 1124-EX-ST-2025. This STA is necessary to authorize Starship Test Flight 12 vehicle communications launching from Starbase TX. Application includes a sub-orbital first stage booster and a second stage. Launch vehicle communications for Test Flight 12 mission launching from Starbase, TX. The first stage booster and the second stage will either return to the launch site or perform a water landing.Operation Start Date: 10/04/2025Operation End Date: 04/04/2026
MIRAD: 806 KM (500.93 miles), East trajectory over waterMaximum flight altitude: 0-380160', AGL, 0-72 miles AGLDates: 2025-06-28 thru 2025-12-28
This STA uses information from previous grant 1395-EX-ST-2025, adding the Starbase Office antenna location and removing the GS9 MegaBay location. STA is necessary to authorize an additional power level for uplink frequencies 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz for the booster and ship on Starship Test Flight 12 launching from Starbase TX. This STA is necessary for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at SpaceX facilities located in Boca Chica TX.
This STA uses information from grant 1536-EX-ST-2025 for high power uplink static beams at the South Padre Island and Starbase Office antenna locations. STA is necessary to authorize a static beam for uplink frequencies 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz for the booster and ship on Starship Test Flight 12 launching from Starbase TX. This STA is necessary for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at SpaceX facilities located in Boca Chica TX.
Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would modify SpaceX’s vehicle operator license to authorize:Updated operations for additional launch trajectories for Starship-Super Heavy operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site, and; Updated operations for Starship Return to Launch Site mission profiles for Starship-Super Heavy operations at the Boca Chica Launch SiteThe Draft Tiered EA also analyzes potential temporary airspace closures associated with the proposed mission profiles.
The FAA invites interested parties to submit comments on the Draft Tiered EA. Public comments can be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-3124 or by postal mail to Ms. Amy Hanson, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza Reston, VA 20190; or delivered in verbal form during the virtual public meeting. The public comment period for the Draft Tiered EA will close on October 20, 2025.
The FAA will hold a virtual public meeting on the Draft Tiered EA on October 7, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. CT. Interested parties must register to join the virtual public meeting. Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a3uzXQcxT8OuGfynVNR8aQ.Dial-in phone number: 888-788-0099 (Toll Free), Webinar ID: 839 4907 3824, Passcode: 872427.
The FAA didn't make a statement on any public safety and foreign policy concerns with SpaceX's new trajectories, but both issues may come into play as the company seeks approval to fly Starship over Mexican towns and cities uprange from Starbase.The regulator's licensing rules state that a commercial launch and reentry should each pose no greater than a 1 in 10,000 chance of harming or killing a member of the public not involved in the mission. The risk to any individual should not exceed 1 in 1 million.[...]One way of minimizing the risk to the public is to avoid flying over large metropolitan areas, and that's exactly what SpaceX and the FAA are proposing to do, at least for the initial attempts to bring Starship home from orbit. A map of a "notional" Starship reentry flight path shows the vehicle beginning its reentry over the Pacific Ocean, then passing over Baja California and soaring above Mexico's interior near the cities of Hermosillo and Chihuahua, each with a population of roughly a million people.The trajectory would bring Starship well north of the Monterrey metro area and its 5.3 million residents, then over the Rio Grande Valley near the Texas cities of McAllen and Brownsville. During the final segment of Starship's return trajectory, the vehicle will begin a vertical descent over Starbase before a final landing burn to slow it down for the launch pad's arms to catch it in midair.In addition to Monterrey, the proposed flight path dodges overflights of major US cities like San Diego, Phoenix, and El Paso, Texas.
This STA is for ground testing at antenna locations in Boca Chica and Brownsville TX. This STA is necessary to authorize on-ground testing only of Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at the SpaceX test facilities located in Boca Chica and Brownsville TX.
Part 1Station Class: MOFrequency(ies): 2364.5 / 2370.5 / 2376.5 / 2382.5 MHzEmission: 4M88G1D / 5M00D1DPower: 25 watts (ERP)Location: Boca Chica, TX (25-59-2.0 N 97-14-57.0 W)MIRAD: 1.24 miles (2.0 km)Antenna Ht: 85 m AGLDates: 2025-12-13 thru 2026-06-13Part 2Same as Part 1 except:Location: Boca Chica, TX (25-59-50.0 N 97-9-25 W)MIRAD: 1.24 miles (2.0 km)Part 3Same as Part 1 except:Location: Boca Chica, TX (25-59-11 N 97-11-16 W)MIRAD: 14.3 miles (23 km)
Operation of Starlink earth stations on the SpaceX Super Heavy booster, Starship spacecraft, and within the payload section of the second stage of Falcon 9 launch vehicles. Operation of satellite user terminals on an experimental basis during upcoming launches. SpaceX seeks authority to mount and operate Starlink earth stations on the SpaceX Super Heavy booster, Starship spacecraft, and within the payload section of the second stage of Falcon 9 launch vehicles for upcoming flights between July, 2025 and January, 2026.Operation Start Date: 01/02/2026Operation End Date: 07/01/2026
To authorize upcoming suborbital test deployments.Operation Start Date: 10/08/2025Operation End Date: 04/06/2026
To further test the payload deployment mechanism of the Starship vehicle, SpaceX seeks special temporary authority to launch and operate space stations on mass simulators for upcoming Starship-Super Heavy test flights and use these space stations to communicate with SpaceX’s satellite constellation and earth station network for a short duration as those simulators reenter and demise. Specifically, SpaceX seeks authority to launch and operate space stations on up to ten mass simulators per test flight. These mass simulators will deploy at suborbital altitudes and the space stations on the mass simulators will transmit for TT&C purposes in Ku-, Ka- and E-Band frequency bands, which the Commission has already authorized SpaceX’s Gen2 satellites to use, for the brief time period before those simulators fully demise. SpaceX expects the mass simulators to demise within 90 minutes of deployment. These suborbital test flights will originate at Starbase, TX and are expected to reach peak altitudes of up to 350 km.[...]In addition, SpaceX requests authority for the space stations to communicate with already authorized Starlink satellites in Ku-band with the same characteristics and under the same conditions as the Commission has already authorized for the Starlink constellation under call sign WU9XCQ. These mass simulators will remain within the authorized physical specifications of SpaceX’s Gen2 satellite hardware. The licensing for re-entry is covered by the FAA review of the Starship test flight.
1903-EX-ST-2025QuoteTo authorize upcoming suborbital test deployments.Operation Start Date: 10/08/2025Operation End Date: 04/06/2026Quote from: NarrativeTo further test the payload deployment mechanism of the Starship vehicle, SpaceX seeks special temporary authority to launch and operate space stations on mass simulators for upcoming Starship-Super Heavy test flights and use these space stations to communicate with SpaceX’s satellite constellation and earth station network for a short duration as those simulators reenter and demise. Specifically, SpaceX seeks authority to launch and operate space stations on up to ten mass simulators per test flight. These mass simulators will deploy at suborbital altitudes and the space stations on the mass simulators will transmit for TT&C purposes in Ku-, Ka- and E-Band frequency bands, which the Commission has already authorized SpaceX’s Gen2 satellites to use, for the brief time period before those simulators fully demise. SpaceX expects the mass simulators to demise within 90 minutes of deployment. These suborbital test flights will originate at Starbase, TX and are expected to reach peak altitudes of up to 350 km.[...]In addition, SpaceX requests authority for the space stations to communicate with already authorized Starlink satellites in Ku-band with the same characteristics and under the same conditions as the Commission has already authorized for the Starlink constellation under call sign WU9XCQ. These mass simulators will remain within the authorized physical specifications of SpaceX’s Gen2 satellite hardware. The licensing for re-entry is covered by the FAA review of the Starship test flight.Looks like the mass simulators on Starship Flight 11 will now transmit data... so maybe live video?
This STA uses information from previous grant 1124-EX-ST-2025. This STA is necessary to authorize Starship Test Flight 12 vehicle communications launching from Starbase TX. Application includes a sub-orbital first stage booster and a second stage. The first stage booster and the second stage will either return to the launch site or perform a water landing.Operation Start Date: 01/23/2026Operation End Date: 06/28/2026
This STA is necessary for SpaceX to perform experimental flight testing of a navigation radar on board an airplane out of Hawthorne, CA and Starbase, TX. Emissions will radiate toward the Earth.The testing requested is designed to characterize performance of radar measurements at various speeds and altitudes.Operation Start Date: 01/30/2026Operation End Date: 07/30/2026
This STA uses information from grant 1799-EX-ST-2025. STA is necessary to authorize an additional power level for uplink frequencies 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz for the booster and ship on Starship Test Flight 12 launching from Starbase TX. This STA is necessary for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at SpaceX facilities located in Boca Chica TX.Launch vehicle communications for test Starship Test Flight 12 mission launching from Starbase, TX. It is used for a tracking beam.Start Date: 04/05/2026End Date: 10/05/2026
This STA uses information from grant 1800-EX-ST-2025 for high power uplink static beam at the South Padre Island and Starbase Office antenna locations. STA is necessary to authorize a static beam for uplink frequencies 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz for the booster and ship on Starship Test Flight 12 launching from Starbase TX. This STA is necessary for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications at SpaceX facilities located in Boca Chica TX.Launch vehicle communications for Starship Test Flight 12 mission launching from Starbase, TX. It is used for a static beam.Start Date: 04/05/2026End Date: 10/05/2026
