FAA Faces Lawsuit Over Handling of SpaceX Starship Program

In the lawsuit, environmental groups accuse the FAA of making environmental concessions to SpaceX.

Jack Daleo

Monday, May 01, 2023 at 06:44 PM ET

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket stands ready for launch ahead of April’s test flight. [Credit: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

Five environmental groups have sued the FAA, alleging improper approval of SpaceX's Starship launch last month, which damaged the launch pad and surrounding environment.
The lawsuit accuses the FAA of making concessions to SpaceX by not requiring a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), instead relying on a less rigorous Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) that failed to adequately mitigate potential damage.
Plaintiffs claim the FAA violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by not fully considering the environmental impacts or alternative plans for the Starship program.
If successful, the lawsuit could compel the FAA to conduct a full EIS, significantly delaying future Starship test flights and adding to existing hurdles like ongoing investigations and launch pad repairs.

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Last month, SpaceX’s Starship rocket—the largest ever constructed—engulfed the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, launch pad in flames en route to its inaugural test flight. Now, the FAA, which signed off on the launch the weekend prior, is also under fire.

Figuratively, that is. On Monday, five environmental groups sued the FAA over its handling of the Starship launch, accusing the agency of making concessions to SpaceX that contributed to the test flight’s impact on surrounding areas.