Ramping Up SpaceX Launches in Florida Not an Environmental Concern: FAA

SpaceX's plans to increase from 50 Falcon 9 launches annually from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to as many as 120 shouldn't have major effects on airspace and maritime activities in the region, the FAA said Friday in a draft environmental assessment. SpaceX is also proposing to build and operate a Falcon 9 landing zone there, the agency said. Its assessment said it didn't expect big cumulative effects on air quality from the proposed operations. If it turns out there are significant noise issues from the proposed operations, "then appropriate mitigations would be developed, where practicable to minimize or avoid impacts."