FAA Greenlights New SpaceX Starship Trajectories Over U.S. Mainland

Agency’s analysis estimates that proposed trajectories could impact thousands of American flights per year.

Jack Daleo

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

With FAA approval, SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket could fly over populated areas in Florida, California, Texas, and other U.S. states. [Credit: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX is nearing FAA approval for Starship launch license modifications that would allow flights over the mainland U.S. and return-to-launch-site operations, with the FAA issuing a "finding of no significant impact" for new trajectories.
These new flight paths will create Aircraft Hazard Areas, projected to impact thousands of commercial aircraft operations annually and necessitate significant airway closures and international coordination.
Aviation safety groups, such as the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), criticize the FAA's analysis as "vague" and warn of high risks, including potential debris striking aircraft, arguing a conflict of interest in the FAA's roles.
The FAA is licensing a rapidly increasing number of commercial spaceflights, largely driven by SpaceX's plans for a significantly higher Starship launch cadence, intensifying concerns over airspace safety and management.

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SpaceX this week moved one step closer to securing a launch license modification that would allow it to fly its gargantuan Starship rocket over portions of the mainland U.S., including Florida, Texas, and California.

The company will still need to obtain that modification from the FAA. But the regulator on Friday issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for SpaceX’s proposal to add new Starship launch trajectories to its Starbase pad in Texas.