FAA Seeks Input on SpaceX Starship Ocean Crash Sites
Published Date: 7/14/2026
Notice
Summary
The FAA is asking for your thoughts on SpaceX’s plan to add new emergency landing spots for its Starship rocket over the Pacific Ocean. This means SpaceX could safely land in more places if something goes wrong during reentry, including a new area in the Northern Pacific. You’ve got until July 27, 2026, to share your comments—no money changes yet, but this could shape future space travel safety!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Expanded Pacific contingency areas
The FAA is evaluating a license change that would permit Starship contingency landings in a newly designated Northern Pacific Contingency Landing Area and expand two previously evaluated areas: the Hawaii and Central Pacific Ocean Contingency Landing Area and the Southeast (SE) Pacific Contingency Landing Area. The Draft Tiered EA also evaluates potential environmental impacts and FAA approval of related airspace closures.
Public comment window opens
You can review the FAA's Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Starship contingency landings and submit comments through Docket No. FAA-2026-6968. The FAA will accept public comments through July 27, 2026, via regulations.gov or by mail to Ms. Amy Hanson, c/o ICF, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 20190.
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