Air Force: Starship to cause few environmental impacts at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

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Would launching up to 76 massive SpaceX Starship rockets atop Super Heavy boosters per year — accompanied by up to 152 sonic-boom-producing landings — generate few significant environmental impacts from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 37?
That's what a newly released Air Force draft environmental impact statement determined. However, Charlie Venuto, past president of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association, worries how Starship's thunderous noise and vibrations will affect ecologically threatened Southeastern beach mice and nesting sea turtles — along with air and water quality — across the nonprofit's namesake 140,000-acre national wildlife refuge and Canaveral National Seashore.
The draft EIS acknowledged that Starship-Super Heavy launches and sonic booms from Launch Complex 37 would constitute a "community annoyance" for areas like Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Cocoa Beach.
And in a move cheered by MIWA officials, the study eliminated from further analysis the thought of building new Starship launch complexes at two greenspace areas at the Cape, citing high potential of endangered species and archaeological sites.
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"The refuge has more endangered and threatened species than any other refuge in the continental U.S. So you know, we have an obligation. I know, working on shuttle, that was always a major concern," Venuto said. He was manager of environmental safety for USBI, NASA's prime contractor for shuttle solid rocket boosters.
"We wanted to maintain that balance between technology and nature. And it seemed like we did a pretty good job of that," Venuto said.
SpaceX seeks regulatory permissions to start launching Starship rockets from Launch Complex 37 at the Space Force installation and pad 39A at NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center. The enormous economic undertaking will generate at least $1.8 billion of capital investment and generated about 600 new full-time jobs by 2030, Gov. Ron Desantis' office announced.
The Air Force's 176-page draft environmental impact statement analyzed potential environmental, social, economic, historic and cultural ramifications from redeveloping about 230 acres of Launch Complex 37 to support Starship-Super Heavy operations starting next year, including launches and booster landings.
United Launch Alliance previously used LC-37 to send up hulking triple-core Delta IV Heavy rockets. The last Delta IV Heavy launched in April 2024. Starship infrastructure includes two concrete launch pads, launch mounts, twin 600-foot integration towers, twin 225-foot-diameter landing pads, and landing catch towers.
In addition to up to 76 annual Starship launches, the draft EIS examined 76 yearly Starship static-fire tests, 76 Super Heavy static-fire tests, 76 Super Heavy landings and 76 Starship landings.
The draft EIS said Starship would have no significant impact on wildlife from LC-37, though "some federally protected species would be exposed to light, vehicle traffic, noise (including sonic boom overpressures), vibration, and heat during launch operations."
What's more, the study determined Starship operations would not have significant impact on air quality, the maritime transportation system, hearing damage, structural damages, groundwater or surface waters.
The Air Force draft EIS eliminated consideration of building a new Launch Complex 50 for Starship operations from greenspace at the northern portion of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This is "an area with high potential for endangered species and archaeological sites," the study said.
Also eliminated was the potential, unbuilt 175-acre Launch Complex 49 near KSC's northern border, in proximity to Playalinda Beach. This land is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
During a FLORIDA TODAY interview, Venuto and MIWA President Nancy Bray praised those moves.
"The good news we were glad to hear was that they were going to repurpose these facilities," Venuto said of LC-37. "We felt that was impressive. That was good thought: Use the infrastructure that you have, and build on that. So we applauded that."
Bray logged a 34-year NASA career, serving as KSC's director of spaceport integration and services. SpaceX is also developing a Starship-Super Heavy site there at pad 39A, pending environmental approval and issuance of a Federal Aviation Administration vehicle operator license. The goal: Conduct up to 44 annual launches and 88 landings from KSC.
In a June 2024 letter to the FAA, the MIWA — which boasts roughly 2,500 paid members and interested "constituents" — expressed holistic concerns about Starship-Super Heavy in light of cumulative rocket-launch impacts across the Cape. That includes Blue Origin's heavy-lift New Glenn rockets, the second of which could launch as soon as Aug. 15.
Plus, SpaceX seeks permission to boost Falcon rocket launches from 50 to up to 120 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
"The SpaceX facility on Roberts Rd. continues to expand and there are many build projects at the KSC Visitors Center. There are several other construction projects planned for KSC and CCSFS," the letter said.
"The cumulative affects to water quality, air quality (including damage to the stratospheric ozone layer), habitat destruction, ability to practice conservation management techniques such as controlled burns, and increased carbon emissions need to be examined in total," the letter said.
Bray and Venuto said they will monitor the Starship environmental permitting process during the coming months.
Now, officials are collecting public comments on the Air Force draft EIS for the Launch Complex 37 proposal. Officials will conduct three Brevard County public hearings to present information, answer questions and collect comments. Hours are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with formal presentations starting at 5:30 p.m.
July 8 in Titusville: American Police Hall of Fame and Museum, 6350 Horizon Drive.
July 9 in Cape Canaveral: Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd.
July 10 in Cocoa: Dr. Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center, 415 Stone St.
In addition, a virtual meeting will be available from July 15 to 28 at spaceforcestarshipeis.com.
Public comments can be submitted through July 28 at spaceforcestarshipeis.com and by emailing [e-mail] with the subject line 'SpaceForceStarshipEIS.' Or, mail comments to CCSFS Starship EIS, 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd. #300, Tampa FL 33609.
Starship operations would have a beneficial impact on Brevard County's economy, decreasing unemployment and likely increasing the median income in the area, the draft EIS said.
"Up to 450 additional full-time employees or contractors would be needed to support launch activities 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, throughout the year," the study said of LC-37 operations.
In addition, Starship launches from the Space Force station would "increase the space launch mission capability of the (Department of Defense), NASA, and other federal and commercial customers and enhance the resilience and capacity of the nation's space launch infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space industry," the study said.
Noise represented the study's lone known potential significant cumulative effect — which it labeled a "community annoyance" for areas like Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Cocoa Beach. To mitigate noise, SpaceX would:
Employ sound suppression systems, such as water deluge and flame diverters.
Work with Space Launch Delta 45 to notify the community of noise and sonic boom events.
Structural damage claims would be investigated, with claimants compensated according to FAA regulations, the Commercial Space Launch Act and Air Force policy.
On that topic, the Cape Canaveral City Council is partnering with the Florida Institute of Technology on an upcoming $10,019 rocket launch impact study. Researchers will install sensor suites this summer at buildings across the beachside city to collect data on decibel levels, vibrations and air quality before, during and after all launches from the Cape.
Starship-Super Heavy's noise, vibrations and sonic booms will likely adversely affect Southeastern beach mice and Florida scrub-jays, per the draft EIS. SpaceX would develop monitoring plans in coordination with Space Launch Delta 45 and USFWS to better understand noise and overpressure impacts on these threatened species.
"Southeastern beach mouse habitat permanently lost during construction would be mitigated by providing funding to offset the loss of habitat at an offsite location in accordance with an agreement with the USFWS. This mitigation would also benefit Florida scrub-jay habitat," the draft EIS said.
Similarly, SpaceX would submit a lighting management plan to minimize effects on sea turtle nesting and hatchlings.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [e-mail]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Merritt Island refuge backers concerned about Starship wildlife impacts