April 30, 2022

FAA Pushes PEA Release for Starbase to May 31 (Source: FAA)
The FAA is updating the release date for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). The FAA now plans to issue the Final PEA on May 31. The FAA is also completing consultation and confirming mitigations for the proposed SpaceX operations. All consultations must be complete before the FAA can issue the Final PEA. (4/29)

SpaceX Launches Record Sixth Launch in One Month (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
It’s been a busy month for SpaceX, with a record 6th Falcon 9 launch from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport on Friday. The company sent up another 53 of its Starlink internet satellites. The first-stage booster for the flight went up for the sixth time, having recently flown on the private AX-1 mission for Axiom Space, and also on last fall’s private Inspiration4 flight. SpaceX landed the booster on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.

It took SpaceX only nine days to refurbish the booster, and it’s been only 21 days since it was last launched, the fastest turnaround ever for the company. It’s the second Starlink launch from the Florida spaceport in eight days. SpaceX had already sent up more than 2,300 of the 570-pound satellites on 43 previous Starlink missions flown since 2019 and 10th this year. The company has approval to place 4,408 Starlinks into service, each of which orbit at around 341 miles altitude. (4/29)