SpaceX Wants To Build Runway In Wildlife Sanctuary, NASA Considers The Impact

JAKARTA - SpaceX is moving ahead with its plans to build a new Starship launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

The company, led by Elon Musk, asked the American space agency (NASA) to conduct an environmental assessment of Launch Complex 49, which is an unbuilt launch facility located at the far north of the center.

Musk announced plans to set up an orbital launch pad for the massive rocket on December 3, but only shared in a tweet that construction had begun.

"The 175-acre site, located north of Launch Complex 39B within the central security perimeter, will support the launch and landing of the company's Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicles," NASA said in a press release released Wednesday night.

NASA and SpaceX are moving forward with a preliminary environmental analysis before concluding a potential deal to develop the property.

When Musk announced plans to move his Starship launch to Florida, it was believed that the launch pad would be located at Complex 39 where SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket was launched into space.

Cape Canaveral is also where the company will launch its Starlink satellite into orbit, along with cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station - but Wednesday's announcement suggests it's Complex 49.

Tom Engler, director of planning and development for the Kennedy center, said in a statement: 'The LC-49 has been part of the Kennedy master plan for several years.'

However, the spaceport is on the same land as Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral Beach National Beach, meaning it is home to both threatened and endangered species.

Therefore, NASA must complete an environmental assessment before SpaceX can make a breakthrough.

“We are working hard to strike a balance between spaceport growth and operations and environmental stewardship,” said Dankert. "Through environmental programs, we are able to conserve and protect our unique and valuable natural resources while achieving NASA's mission and values."

NASA will begin interagency and public scoping for the proposed LC-49 Environmental Assessment in early 2022. Scoping is part of the NEPA process in which federal agencies describe proposed actions and potential alternatives.