SpaceX says it has already begun construction for Starship launches from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, following recent approvals by the Department of the Air Force. On Monday, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) issued a Record of Decision regarding an environmental impact statement for launches of Starship and its super-heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to the Record of Decision, the DAF will allow SpaceX to redevelop SLC-37 for Starship launch and landing operations.The decision comes after nearly two years of SpaceX working through the approvals process, which began in February 2024.Environmental review, concerns The private spaceflight company thanked the Department of the Air Force, the 45th Space Force, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife for “their effort on the environmental review,” according to a social media post on Monday.But residents near Cape Canaveral have been critical of the failed test flights in Texas and are concerned about impacts on the region with the bigger rocket. “I live straight across the Indian River in Titusville. My house — right now — during a regular SpaceX launch, I can sleep through it. A heavy, I hear it,” Charlene Melcher said. “This one — I’m terrified it’s gonna destroy my house.”Research chemist Ken Kremer sat in on an information session in August about the Starship super-heavy launch vehicle. He believes launching from a different pad could help minimize negative impacts.“An alternative has to be found,” Kremer said. “This is just focused on 39A, but there’s also a possibility of 37, and I think that would vastly minimize the impacts on Playalinda Beach and the other communities.”Under the current FAA proposal, up to 44 Starship Super Heavy launches could occur each year. This would prompt temporary airspace closures, maritime closures and Playalinda Beach closures for an estimated 60.5 days annually. Testing in TexasThroughout the approval process, SpaceX has been continuously testing its super-heavy rocket at its Starbase facility in Cameron County, Texas. Starship has been launched 11 times, with 6 of those being successful. The company has had mixed success in 2025, with several Starships being lost in flight and a rocket exploding on a pad during a test in June. Test flights 10 and 11, however, both succeeded.Florida launchesSpaceX regularly launches its smaller, partially reusable Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, having recently passed 100 successful launches from Florida in 2025 alone. The company is aiming for the Starship vehicle to be fully reusable and to send payloads up to 150 tons to low Earth orbit.Race to spaceIn the social post announcement, SpaceX also said that Starship “will be ready to support America’s national security and Artemis goals” with the three launch pads. SpaceX is competing with other companies to provide a lunar lander for Artemis III, which is slated to launch astronauts to the moon during the Trump administration. NASA had been planning to use a lander from SpaceX, but delays in the company’s lander program led NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy to reopen the lander contract in October.SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said Starship is critical to making humanity a multi-planet species, calling it imperative for the survival of civilization.

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. —

SpaceX says it has already begun construction for Starship launches from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, following recent approvals by the Department of the Air Force.

On Monday, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) issued a Record of Decision regarding an environmental impact statement for launches of Starship and its super-heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to the Record of Decision, the DAF will allow SpaceX to redevelop SLC-37 for Starship launch and landing operations.

The decision comes after nearly two years of SpaceX working through the approvals process, which began in February 2024.

Environmental review, concerns

The private spaceflight company thanked the Department of the Air Force, the 45th Space Force, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife for “their effort on the environmental review,” according to a social media post on Monday.

But residents near Cape Canaveral have been critical of the failed test flights in Texas and are concerned about impacts on the region with the bigger rocket.

“I live straight across the Indian River in Titusville. My house — right now — during a regular SpaceX launch, I can sleep through it. A heavy, I hear it,” Charlene Melcher said. “This one — I’m terrified it’s gonna destroy my house.”

Research chemist Ken Kremer sat in on an information session in August about the Starship super-heavy launch vehicle. He believes launching from a different pad could help minimize negative impacts.

“An alternative has to be found,” Kremer said. “This is just focused on 39A, but there’s also a possibility of 37, and I think that would vastly minimize the impacts on Playalinda Beach and the other communities.”

Under the current FAA proposal, up to 44 Starship Super Heavy launches could occur each year. This would prompt temporary airspace closures, maritime closures and Playalinda Beach closures for an estimated 60.5 days annually.

Testing in Texas

Throughout the approval process, SpaceX has been continuously testing its super-heavy rocket at its Starbase facility in Cameron County, Texas.

Starship has been launched 11 times, with 6 of those being successful. The company has had mixed success in 2025, with several Starships being lost in flight and a rocket exploding on a pad during a test in June. Test flights 10 and 11, however, both succeeded.

Florida launches

SpaceX regularly launches its smaller, partially reusable Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, having recently passed 100 successful launches from Florida in 2025 alone. The company is aiming for the Starship vehicle to be fully reusable and to send payloads up to 150 tons to low Earth orbit.

Race to space

In the social post announcement, SpaceX also said that Starship “will be ready to support America’s national security and Artemis goals” with the three launch pads. SpaceX is competing with other companies to provide a lunar lander for Artemis III, which is slated to launch astronauts to the moon during the Trump administration. NASA had been planning to use a lander from SpaceX, but delays in the company’s lander program led NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy to reopen the lander contract in October.

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We’ve received approval to develop Space Launch Complex-37 for Starship operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Construction has started.
With three launch pads in Florida, Starship will be ready to support America’s national security and Artemis goals as the world’s… pic.twitter.com/USgwNzwK8L

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 1, 2025

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said Starship is critical to making humanity a multi-planet species, calling it imperative for the survival of civilization.