As regulators are considering plans for SpaceX to launch a massive spacecraft rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, federal documents warn that those flights could ripple over Florida’s airspace and could force ground stops with multiple airports, rerouting and delays of up to two hours.
Even after its launch, according to a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released by the Federal Aviation Administration this month, Starship’s two-stage re-entry could require ground stops in some of the country’s busiest airports.
Florida airports affected by the launch may include Orlando International, Miami International, Tampa International and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International.
For launches and super heavy booster landings, the average delay can range from 40 minutes to 2 hours, while for spacecraft reentry, it can range from 40 minutes to 1 hour. The FAA states on its companion slide deck that it can be repurposed and cancelled.
To manage risk, the FAA establishes aircraft hazard areas (AHAs) over potentially affected zones, similar to today’s commercial space launches. Depending on the flight orbit of the spacecraft, these zones may overlay routes above the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and regions of several Central American countries.
“AHAS could require closure of dozens of coastal and deep-sea ocean airways over the Atlantic, and considerable aircraft rerouting is required to avoid AHAS,” the draft EIS says in regards to the launch of spacecraft.
Tampa International Airport spokesman Emily Nipps told TechCrunch that the airport has not previously been involved in briefings or procedural planning at the FAA or SpaceX. However, the day after TechCrunch sent inquiries to the relevant airports and the FAA, Nipps said they were notified that the airport was “quickly” debate.
TechCrunch Events
San Francisco
|
October 27th-29th, 2025
“I don’t know yet whether it will change anything operational for us,” she said.
A spokesman for Miami International said he had not received any explanation regarding the possible ground stop.
SpaceX has been launching its flagship Falcon rocket from the Florida coast for many years, and its cadence has been rising sharply since 2020. Despite launching more than 80 Falcon rockets from the East last year, these launches typically do not disrupt commercial airlines. However, Falcon rockets are significantly different from spacecraft. A small falcon size means a small debris footprint in the event of anomalies, and the Falcon launch is predictable and mature at this point. Spacecraft are at a much earlier stage in development, with vehicles still occasionally exploding during flights, both on ground testing and orbit.
In fact, the Draft EIS points out that the size of airspace closures may vary from spacecraft mission to different sizes, and may shrink as the vehicle becomes more reliable.
A FAA spokesperson said the agency has already worked with the aviation organization and has worked with SpaceX to develop an anticipated launch and re-entry trajectory. Before launches, the agency will also distribute the final airspace management plan. The FAA relies on many factors, including the number of passengers affected, the duration of the launch window, and the key holidays in determining when the space will be released, the spokesman added.
Starship is SpaceX’s next-generation launch system designed for travel to the Moon and Mars. The 400-foot-high rocket consists of two stages. It is a top stage and an ultra-heavy booster, also known as a spaceship. Both stages are fully reusable and designed to be quickly renovated for advanced satellite delivery and missions into deep space.
Today, SpaceX is running launch activities for all its spacecraft from Starbase in southern Texas. However, the company has expanded its operations to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, encouraging environmental reviews. That review will be conducted by the FAA in collaboration with NASA, the Air Force, Fish and Wildlife Service, and other federal agencies.
Draft EIS may include up to 44 Super Heavy Booster Landings and 44 Spaceship Destinations. The Super Heavy could either land on the LC-39A, the KSC launch pad, by droneship or be consumed in the Atlantic. Similarly, spacecraft landings can occur as pads, ships, or splashes of water recovered in the Atlantic, Pacific, or Indian seas.
The FAA said in its draft EIS that temporary airspace closures could affect commercial airlines and other stakeholders, but “mitigation strategies such as pre-adjusted reroutes, dynamic scheduling and time-based traffic flow management could reduce the burden during operation.”
Today, the FAA uses a prototype tool called Space Data Integrator, which ingests real-time flight data from SpaceX and other operators to reduce the time when airspace is closed. Regulators say they want to develop more tools to enhance situational awareness, and say every time a Starship launches, they get more data on its operations.
The US Space Force conducts parallel environmental reviews on a nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force base, analyzing the launches of up to 76 spacecraft. The Draft EIS of Starship’s launch says it will lead to airspace closures, but details of the closure are still unknown as it is expected to take months.
We are constantly aiming to evolve and you can help us by providing insights into TechCrunch and your perspective and feedback on our coverage and events! Fill in this research to let us know how we are doing and get the opportunity to win an award in return!
