FAA clears Starship Pacific reentry and extra Starbase path

The FAA published a Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on September 2, 2026 for SpaceX Starship reentry contingency operations in the Pacific Ocean and an additional landing trajectory back to Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, with the Federal Register notice following on September 4. The review would support a license modification adding a Northern Pacific Contingency Landing Area, expanding two existing Pacific splashdown zones, and authorizing temporary airspace closures for a new return-to-launch-site path. The FONSI is an environmental clearance, not a flight date or the license amendment itself.