Federal Aviation Administration officials are reviewing the potential environmental and public access impacts of future SpaceX Starship launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, including possible closures of Playalinda Beach.
According to the FAA’s draft environmental impact statement, launches and landings of SpaceX’s next-generation rocket could lead to the equivalent of 60½ days of beach closures each year. The estimate includes 33 to 44 full-day closures and up to 33 half-day closures at Canaveral National Seashore, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary as part of the National Park Service.
Growing Public Pushback
Opposition to the proposed launch licensing plan is gaining traction online. A Change.org petition is circulating in an effort to safeguard public access to Playalinda Beach, a popular spot for both residents and tourists.
Environmental groups have also raised concerns. In a letter to the FAA, 10 organizations—including Friends of Canaveral, the Merritt Island Wildlife Association, and the Space Coast Audubon Society—warned that the closures could have “significant” impacts on public use and natural resources. They highlighted that more than 2.1 million visitors come to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore each year.
Public Meetings Scheduled
To gather feedback, the FAA has scheduled four public meetings this week on Merritt Island and in Cape Canaveral:
Tuesday, Aug. 26: 1–3 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation Center for Space Education, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Thursday, Aug. 28: 1–3 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. at the Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral.
Each session will begin with a video presentation, followed by an open-house format where attendees can speak with FAA officials and project contractors.
Balancing Space Progress and Public Access
If approved, the FAA’s licensing plan would allow up to 44 Starship launches per year from Launch Complex 39A. While this marks a major step forward in advancing U.S. spaceflight, it also raises questions about balancing technological progress with environmental preservation and public access to Florida’s coastline.
Canaveral National Seashore, spanning 58,000 acres and 24 miles of beaches, has been a protected recreational area since 1975. As discussions continue, federal regulators, environmental advocates, and local residents are weighing how to protect both the region’s natural beauty and its role in the nation’s space future.