SpaceX, a commercial satellite launcher and space mission provider for NASA, has received approval to increase the number of Falcon 9 rocket launches it conducts from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX Re-engages

The US regulator has greenlit a plan to increase the company’s annual launches from 50 to 120. This approval will allow SpaceX to meet the growing launch demand.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved SpaceX for 120 Falcon 9 launches annually following an environmental assessment. It has also approved a new landing site capable of handling 34 landings per year for the return of the rockets’ lower stages to the surface. This new landing site will reduce the need for rockets to land on drone ships in the ocean, shortening maintenance times.

This FAA approval is the first step in increasing the number of launches. Before constructing its new facilities, the company will need to obtain additional environmental permits to protect wildlife in the area. Because the Air Force owns the launch platform, the Department of the Air Force will also approve these changes.

SpaceX maintains a busy launch schedule for commercial customers, the Department of Defense, and its own Starlink internet satellites. The company launched 60 launches per year in 2022, increasing to 132 in 2024. The newly approved launch capacity will help it manage this demand more easily.

This move is part of SpaceX’s strategy to increase launch capacity at various facilities. The company also plans to launch 100 Falcon launches per year from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Meanwhile, FAA officials are reviewing a proposal to increase the number of launches from Texas and Florida for its larger Starship rockets, designed for missions to the Moon and Mars.