SpaceX Roberts Road Operational Area Expansion

In 2018, SpaceX and NASA prepared an EA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts resulting from construction and operations associated with development of the SpaceX Roberts Road Operations Area on KSC. The Proposed Action included the establishment of a site for booster and fairing processing and storage, a launch and landing control center, and a rocket garden. This location was intended to provide SpaceX with facilities to support staff in planning, processing, and operating launches. Since NASA’s issuance of the FONSI in December 2018, SpaceX has constructed Hangar X, which provides office space and booster and fairing processing and storage, and associated utilities. SpaceX is currently constructing the Hangar X expansion, as well as other storage and processing facilities within the existing Roberts Road site.

The purpose of SpaceX’s current proposal is to consolidate SpaceX’s Brevard County, Florida operations within a contiguous campus at KSC to increase operational capabilities, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of SpaceX’s operations. Consolidation of operations would, over time, allow SpaceX to recapitalize functions and capabilities into more efficient facilities on a smaller footprint.

NASA KSC

Since 2014, KSC has utilized the Land Use NOA process as part of our comprehensive master planning for evaluation of future land use and development.

All proposed developmental activities on KSC, whether government or commercial, are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). New construction project proposals are subject to a comprehensive environmental review process that includes an Environmental Assessment (EA) and site-planning to identify potential impacts. Environmental planning is implemented early in project development for proposed projects and activities located at KSC. Early planning facilitates compliance with NEPA and all applicable environmental laws and regulations, minimizes impacts to the environment, and reduces project uncertainty.

As part of NASA’s NEPA process, in consideration of the SpaceX request to expand existing operations at Roberts Road an EA will be developed to assess and document the potential environmental impacts of the proposal prior to a final decision. Initiation and completion of an EA is not indicative of a proposed project’s approval or disapproval.

For more information about KSC’s NEPA process visit KSC’s NEPA page.

SpaceX

Founded in 2002, SpaceX is a commercial space transportation company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX developed the Falcon 1 (no longer operational), Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy vertical orbital launch vehicles, all of which were built with the goal of becoming reusable launch vehicles. SpaceX launches commercial and government payloads, including the Dragon spacecraft, which was recently used to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station and bring them back to Earth. SpaceX is currently developing a new rocket, Starship/Super Heavy, with the goal of traveling to the Moon and Mars. For additional information on SpaceX, please visit spacex.com.

Project Updates

Please check here for project updates. As the development of the EA progresses, project updates and public documents will be posted here.

Draft Environmental Assessment Public Review: NASA KSC welcomes input and comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Roberts Road Expansion on KSC. The EA will be available below for a 30-day public review period beginning September 14, 2023 and ending October 16, 2023. NASA KSC requests that comments be submitted via email to: ksc-spacex-robertsroad@mail.nasa.gov or in writing to:

Donald Dankert
Environmental Management Branch
SI-E3, NASA Kennedy Space Center
Florida, 32899

RR North Expansion_Draft SEA.pdf (nasa.gov)

Stay Informed

To subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates on this project please email KSC-SpaceX-RobertsRoad@mail.nasa.gov with the subject titled “Mailing List”

Please email us at KSC-SpaceX-RobertsRoad@mail.nasa.gov for project updates and to be added to the mailing list.

NASA NEPA Program
KSC Center-wide PEIS
KSC Master Plan
KSC Vision Plan
Starship Operations at LC-39A EA
SpaceX Operational Area EA