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Department of Transportation 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

AGENCY: Lead agency - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT) 

 

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact 

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepared an Environmental 

Assessment (EA) to evaluate the Masten Space Systems proposal to obtain experimental permits 

to conduct flight tests of its XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets from a site at 

the Mojave Airport in Mojave, California. The EA evaluated the potential environmental 

impacts of a maximum combined total of 50 launches of the XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable 

suborbital rockets. After reviewing and analyzing currently available data and information on 

existing conditions, project impacts, and measures to mitigate those impacts, the FAA, Office of 

Commercial Space Transportation (AST) has determined that issuing experimental permits to 

Masten Space Systems would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment 

within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore the 

preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required and AST is issuing a 

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FAA made this determination in accordance 

with all applicable environmental laws. 

FOR A COPY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Visit the following internet 

address: http://ast.faa.gov, or contact Ms. Stacey Zee, FAA Environmental Specialist, 

800 Independence Avenue SW, Room 331, Washington, D.C. 20591. You may also send e-mail 

requests to stacey.zee@faa.gov or telephone (202) 267-9305. 

DATES: The EA and FONSI are being released to the public in August 2006. 

PROPOSED ACTION: Under Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), Subtitle IX, Sections 

70101-70121, Commercial Space Launch Activities Act, the FAA oversees, licenses, and 

regulates both launches and reentries of launch and reentry vehicles, and the operation of launch 

and reentry sites when carried out by U.S. citizens or within the United States. (49 U.S.C. 70104, 

70105) Chapter 701 directs the FAA to exercise this responsibility consistent with public health 

and safety, safety of property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United 

States, and to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launch and reentry by the 

private sector. (49 U.S.C. 70103, 70105) 

The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (CSLAA) promotes the development 

of the emerging commercial space flight industry and makes the FAA responsible for regulating 

private human space flight under Chapter 701. The CSLAA establishes an experimental permit 

regime for reusable suborbital launch vehicles, which provides the FAA with an alternative 

mechanism to regulate the launch and reentry of reusable suborbital rockets. Issuance of 

experimental permits to Masten Space Systems for the launches of the XA0.1, XA0.2, and 
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XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets is a Federal action requiring environmental analysis by the 

FAA in accordance with NEPA, 1969, 42 U.S.C. Sections 4321 et seq. 

The proposed action is for the FAA to issue experimental permits to Masten Space Systems for 

launches of its XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets at a designated site at the 

Mojave Airport in Mojave, California. The FAA would issue a separate permit for each 

suborbital rocket design. The permits would cover launch and landing activities at a site located 

northeast of Runway 22 at the Mojave Airport. To support launch and landing activities at the 

primary site, two concrete pads (each measuring 10 feet by 10 feet) would be constructed or 

temporary pads would be laid on the ground. As a conservative estimate, the EA assumed the 

concrete pads would be constructed. 

The XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets each consist of a single stage rocket 

engine that is vertically oriented during launch and landing operations and uses liquid oxygen 

(LOX) and isopropyl alcohol as propellants. Pre-flight activities would include assembling the 

rockets, transporting the propellants, suborbital rocket positioning, flight control diagnostics 

checks, and propellant loading. Flight tests would consist of vertical launch, lateral travel, and 

vertical landing. Tests conducted at the Mojave Airport would not rise above 152 meters (500 

feet). The longest of these tests would last approximately 107 seconds at 100 percent throttle or 

179 seconds at 60 percent throttle. The powered duration of the flight would be no more than 

150 seconds; most tests would occur for no more than 60 seconds. Landing activities would 

include shut down of flight control systems and purges of remaining pressurants and propellants. 

An experimental permit authorizes an unlimited number of launches and reentries for a particular 

reusable suborbital rocket design within a one-year period; however, Masten Space Systems has 

indicated that it would conduct the majority of its operations during a two-month period 

culminating in the X Prize Cup competition to be held in October 2006 at the Las Cruces 

International Airport in New Mexico. This EA analyzes the impacts to the environment of a 

maximum number of 50 launches occurring during the proposed two-month period of operations. 

PURPOSE AND NEED: The purpose of the proposed action is to permit Masten Space 

Systems to test its XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets. The company’s intent 

is to use the initial tests of the XA0.1 and XA0.2 rockets to further refine the construction, 

propulsion, and flight control software/hardware technology of the XL0.1 rocket in preparation 

for the X Prize Cup competition and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Lunar 

Lander Challenge competition that will be held in conjunction with the X Prize Cup activities at 

the Las Cruces International Airport in October 2006. The XL0.1 rocket would be used to 

demonstrate reusable vertical takeoff and vertical landing technologies. 

The proposed action is needed to allow Masten Space Systems to conduct these tests of its 

reusable suborbital rockets and the associated technologies in preparation for the X Prize Cup 

competition. 

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: Alternatives analyzed in the EA included (1) the proposed 

action, issuing separate experimental permits to Masten Space Systems for the launches of its 

XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets at the primary site located northeast of 
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Runway 22 at the Mojave Airport; (2) alternative 1, issuing separate experimental permits to 

Masten Space Systems for the launches of its XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital 

rockets at a secondary site located east of Runway 22 at the Mojave Airport; and (3) the no 

action alternative. 

Alternative 1 includes the same activities as described for the proposed action. The only 

difference is that the activities would occur at a secondary site located east of Runway 22, near 

the primary site and still within the property boundaries of the Mojave Airport. Due to these 

similarities, the environmental impacts associated with alternative 1 would be the same as those 

described for the proposed action. 

Under the no action alternative, the FAA would not issue experimental permits to Masten Space 

Systems, and there would be no flight tests of its XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 suborbital rockets at 

the proposed site. The Mojave Airport would continue its current services as a general aviation 

airport and a launch site for horizontally launched suborbital vehicles as licensed by the FAA. 

Masten Space Systems would not be able to test the XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable 

suborbital rockets and the associated technologies in preparation for the X Prize Cup competition 

from this location. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 

Health and Safety 

A hazard analysis is a necessary part of the Mission and Safety Review for the FAA permit 

issuance determination to assess the possible hazards associated with proposed ground, flight, 

and landing operations. Masten Space Systems is required to conduct risk analyses based on the 

proposed mission profiles. The Mission and Safety Review will consider these analyses, and, 

therefore, they were not discussed in detail in the EA. However, analysis of the safety and health 

implications of launch related operations and activities that have the potential for environmental 

impact were considered in the EA. 

Potential health and safety impacts under the proposed action could result from propellant 

transport/handling and launches of the suborbital rockets. Potential accidents during any of these 

activities could present impacts to health and safety including increased traffic accidents due to 

increased transportation activity on and off the site, propellant spills, and catastrophic failure 

during launch operations. 

 

The increased road traffic that would result from transporting equipment and personnel to and 

from the proposed launch site would only add a few vehicles above existing traffic loads. The 

small number of additional passenger vehicles and delivery trucks anticipated, as part of the 

proposed action would not materially increase the number of traffic accidents. 

There is also the concern of spills of propellants during handling and loading operations and 

subsequent fires or explosions. However, Masten Space Systems would follow Mojave Airport’s 

established practices and procedures to handle the spills and releases of propellants. 
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Potential health and safety impacts could occur in the unlikely event of a catastrophic failure 

during the takeoff, mid-flight, or landing phase; however, the XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 are 

unmanned reusable suborbital rockets and no flight personnel would be onboard the rockets. 

Masten Space Systems has established a safety clear zone designed to contain potential adverse 

effects of a failed launch operation, and would verify that all ground crew personnel and 

members of the public are outside of the safety clear zone before and during each launch. 

Emergency response and the local fire department would be on standby during each launch to 

respond to accidents or fires. 

Air Quality 

Launch operations would result in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, and ground support 

operations would result in CO, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate 

matter emissions. Eastern Kern County is in non-attainment for ozone under the Federal 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); however, air analyses show that there would 

be no exceedances of the NAAQS from the proposed action for all criteria pollutants. Therefore, 

a NAAQS assessment would not be required to evaluate the potential for significant air quality 

impacts under NEPA. Emissions would not be regionally significant (i.e., do not equal or exceed 

10 percent of regional emissions inventory for the air quality control area for any criteria 

pollutant) and do not require a Federal general conformity analysis. 

Airspace 

Masten would need to coordinate with the Mojave Air Traffic Control Tower for their proposed 

operations. Tests conducted at the Mojave Airport would not rise above 152 meters (500 feet), 

and would occur entirely within Class E airspace. The increase in low altitude flights would not 

exceed the capabilities of the Mojave Airport facilities and control tower and would not result in 

a significantly higher probability of in-flight mishaps. No military training routes, en route 

airways, jet routes or surrounding airport airspaces intersect the Mojave Airport airspace. 

Therefore, the proposed action would not significantly change airspace activities. 

Biological Resources 

No federally protected wetlands, riparian habitat, or other ecologically critical areas are located 

at the Mojave Airport, and so no adverse effects to these areas would occur. The habitat that 

would be lost due to pad construction is similar to other habitat in the area and the wildlife 

species that are displaced by the activities would be able to relocate to these areas. A maximum 

of 50 test flights would result in infrequent short-term increases in emissions and noise as 

compared to existing flight operations in the region, and thus impacts on biological resources 

would not be significant. Two state/federally protected threatened species, the Mohave ground 

squirrel and the desert tortoise, have limited potential to occur at the Mojave Airport. If 

observed on the airport property, personnel would follow appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Game protocol. The FAA has an 

agreement with USFWS to conduct visual surveys of launch and landing areas prior of test flight 

activities of the suborbital rockets as a protective measure for desert tortoises that may be within 

the Mojave Airport property. 
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Cultural Resources 

The FAA reviewed the proposed action in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act and determined that this project would have no adverse effect on historic 

properties. No sites that are eligible or that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places 

exist within the Mojave Airport property, and the proposed action would not affect any sites that 

may be potentially eligible. There are no sites on the California list of State Historical 

Landmarks within the Mojave Airport, thus the proposed action would have no adverse impact 

on state historical resources. Because no notable Tribal cultural resources are located at the 

airport, adverse effects on Tribal cultural resources would not be anticipated. 

Geology and Soils 

The proposed action would not affect the subsurface geology of the area and would not result in 

exposure of individuals or structures to potential adverse effects from seismic activity; however 

the proposed action has the potential to impact surface soils. These impacts would occur from 

pad construction, deposition of exhaust emissions from rocket launches, deposition of residual 

propellant during a rocket crash, or propellant spills during propellant loading. 

Construction would disturb 18.6 square meters (200 square feet) of ground, but the small size of 

the disturbance and the use of best management practices would mitigate any substantial erosion 

or loss of topsoil. The deposition of exhaust emissions during rocket launch would not result in 

substantial contamination, erosion or loss of topsoil. The release of LOX/isopropyl alcohol 

would not result in substantial contamination, erosion or loss of topsoil. The breakup of the 

suborbital rockets during a crash and subsequent recovery activities could directly impact soils. 

The force associated with falling debris could create impact craters that might impact soils. In 

addition, any residual propellant in the damaged rocket could be absorbed by soils at the impact 

site affecting overall soil quality. Because the probability of a crash would be very low and the 

cleanup of reportable quantities of hazardous materials released is required under the 

Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation and Liability Act, debris or residual 

propellant would not be expected to result in substantial contamination, erosion, or loss of 

topsoil. 

Launches would require shipments of propellants, temporary storage of those propellants, and 

transfer to the suborbital rockets. There is a potential for leaks or spills during any of these 

operations, but the limited number of launches and the procedures in place to prevent and clean 

up spills would limit the likelihood of soil contamination. Launch activities would comply with 

all applicable Federal and state regulations governing propellant storage and hazardous waste 

disposal, which would reduce the likelihood of soil contamination occurring. Therefore, the 

impacts on soil would not result in substantial contamination, erosion, or loss of topsoil. 

Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Management 

No substantial impacts regarding hazardous materials and hazardous waste management are 

anticipated because all propellants and other hazardous materials would be handled, stored, and 

used in compliance with all applicable regulations. On site waste management capacity at the 
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Mojave Airport is adequate to manage the small quantity of hazardous waste expected to be 

generated by the proposed action. 

The primary hazardous materials used in support of test flights at the proposed launch site would 

be propellants. The XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets’ propellants include 

isopropyl alcohol, a non-toxic liquid alcohol fuel with hazardous characteristics similar to the jet 

fuels currently used and stored without adverse impact at the Mojave Airport and LOX, a nontoxic cryogenic liquid oxidizer. The fuel and oxidizer would be kept in separate, secured 

containers during transport. No propellants would be stored at the proposed launch site for 

extended periods of time; propellant shipments would be brought in to support launches as 

needed. 

Propellant loading operations would occur at a designated staging area. If there is a propellant 

spill, Masten Space Systems would conform to the Mojave Airport’s spill prevention control 

plan, which would minimize impacts to the environment. Masten Space Systems personnel 

would be responsible for any necessary cleanup and remediation actions following a spill. 

Land Use 

The proposed suborbital rocket testing would take place in land use zone B1 as defined in the 

Kern County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) and the proposed action meets 

acceptable use criteria for that zone. Although vertical launches and landings are not typically 

conducted at Mojave Airport, the suborbital rockets are equal to or less than the airport’s typical 

horizontally launched vehicles in size, power, and noise. Runway 22 may need to be closed 

during suborbital rocket testing, but the airport would not be shut down. Therefore, there would 

not be a significant change in airport activities under the proposed action. All land uses and 

building restrictions in the Primary Compatibility Criteria zones on the Mojave Airport would be 

maintained as defined in the Kern County ALUCP. No farmlands or agricultural use lands are 

located on the Mojave Airport. No prime farmland, unique farmland, farmland of state 

importance, or general farmland would be converted to a non-agricultural use as a result of the 

proposed action. No parks, recreational facilities, or Section 4(f) resources are located within the 

Mojave Airport property, and thus there would be no impacts on these land uses and resources. 

Noise 

It is anticipated that the noise levels produced by the launch of the XL0.1 rocket would be lower 

than the noise levels produced by the F-4 and other aircraft already in use at the Mojave Airport. 

Because the Mojave Airport currently experiences high intensity noise levels due to military jet 

flights and stationary rocket testing, and because the additional noise level would be much lower 

than existing noises, impacts on noise levels during launches at the Mojave Airport would be 

insignificant. There are no noise sensitive receptors or areas within the region of influence at the 

Mojave Airport. The proposed action would not expose persons to or generate noise levels in 

excess of standards established by the California State Building Code, the California Land Use 

Compatibility for Community Noise Environments guidelines, the Kern County General Plan, 

the Mojave Specific Plan, or the Kern County ALUCP. The proposed action would not result in 

a significant permanent or temporary increase in ambient noise at or near the Mojave Airport. 
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Socioeconomic Impacts and Environmental Justice 

No substantial socioeconomic impacts are anticipated because the proposed action does not 

result in any of the following: (1) extensive relocation of residents where sufficient housing is 

not available; (2) relocation of community businesses that would create severe economic 

hardship for the affected communities; (3) disruption of local traffic patterns that substantially 

reduce the levels of service of the roads serving the airport and its surrounding communities; or 

(4) a substantial loss in the community tax base. 

Since no new development would be required to support the proposed action and existing 

personnel would be used to conduct suborbital rocket testing, it would not induce significant 

population growth in the Mojave Census-Designated Place. Because the proposed action would 

occur entirely on airport property, no disruption to local businesses would be expected. No jobs 

would be created or eliminated as a result of the proposed action; and therefore, no impacts on 

employment or housing demand would be expected. 

Short-term noise impacts associated with the proposed action would not have an impact on the 

health or environment of minority or low-income populations located at or near the airport. 

Effects from the proposed action are not concentrated in an area that might contain 

proportionally more children and thus, the impacts of the proposed action on children’s health 

and safety should not be disproportionate. 

Transportation 

The increased road traffic that would result from transporting equipment and personnel to and 

from the proposed launch site would only add a few vehicles above existing traffic loads on 

Business SR-58. Currently, the Mojave Airport receives approximately 264 deliveries annually. 

Activities under the proposed action would only increase the number of deliveries by a small 

amount. In addition, transport of equipment and personnel would be limited to a two-month 

operational period, which would result in a relatively infrequent and insignificant increase in 

number of vehicles on local roads at any given time. The small number of additional passenger 

vehicles and delivery trucks anticipated as part of the proposed action would not materially 

increase the number of traffic accidents, increase traffic congestion, or cause a decline in the 

level of service of local roadways. 

Visual Resources 

If members of the general public happen to be in the area during the proposed testing, the rocketpowered launches would be similar to the current visual setting but might attract and dominate 

the attention of a viewer in this area because of the vertical operation and characteristics of the 

rockets when compared to the horizontally launched aircraft and rockets currently in operation at 

the airport. In these few cases the launch itself might be “visually dominant”; however, the 

relatively few test flights of the XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 suborbital rockets (i.e., a maximum of 

50 over a two-month period) and the temporary nature of the visual change (i.e., a maximum 

flight time of three minutes) would minimize any resulting impacts. In addition, the Mojave 

Airport, as an active airport and industrial site, is a low visual sensitivity area; therefore the 
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resulting impact rating for “visually dominant” intensity ratings would be adverse but not 

significant. 

Launches would not create any impacts unless they occur during nighttime hours. If a launch 

occurs during nighttime hours, the launch itself would be visually dominant and mitigation 

measures might be required to shield viewers in the area from light generated by the launch. 

Masten Space Systems has not proposed any nighttime operations at this time. If night launches 

were proposed in the future they would be analyzed in a separate environmental analysis. 

Water Resources 

No surface water bodies, wetlands, and wild and scenic rivers are present at the Mojave Airport, 

and thus would not be adversely impacted by proposed test flight operations. No significant 

impacts on ground water quality would be expected from accidental releases of propellants into 

the environment because they are non-toxic and rapidly biodegradable. The proposed action 

would not substantially deplete ground water supplies or result in any contaminant releases that 

would cause violations of local, state, or Federal water quality requirements. The existing storm 

water system and permit would be adequate for the proposed action. The Mojave Airport is not 

located within the 100-year flood plain or California’s coastal zone as defined in the state 

Coastal Zone Management Plan. The proposed action is not required to conform to the 

California Coastal Zone Management Plan. 

Cumulative Impacts 

Cumulative impacts are “the incremental impact of the actions when added to other past, present, 

and reasonably foreseeable future action regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or 

person undertakes such other actions.” (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1508.7) The 

cumulative impacts analysis focused on those past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future 

actions that have the potential to contribute to cumulative impacts. These actions include 

ongoing commercial, military, and private aviation activities at the Mojave Airport; activities 

described under the proposed action; and a series of up to 65 tethered flight tests of the XA0.1, 

XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets. Tethered flight tests would involve the use of 

equipment to prevent the vehicle from rising above 2.1 meters (7 feet) and rocket engine firings 

of up to 3 minutes. These types of tests would not require a license or permit from the FAA. 

The proposed action has been evaluated for cumulative impacts on the resource areas 

summarized below. 

 Air Quality - The launch of up to 50 vertically launched suborbital vehicles in 2006 in 

conjunction with other aircraft operations at the Mojave Airport and the tethered tests 

would not result in emissions considered regionally significant, or in excess of specific de 

minimis levels for criteria pollutants under the General Conformity Regulations (40 CFR 

150 et seq.) for areas that are in non-attainment for Federal ambient air quality standards. 

Analyses of emissions from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions show 

that there would be no exceedances of the NAAQS for all criteria pollutants. Therefore, 

a NAAQS assessment would not be required to evaluate the potential for significant air 
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quality impacts under NEPA. In addition, the cumulative impact on global warming 

from launches account for only a fraction of total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and 

would be insignificant when compared to emissions from other industrial sources. 

 Airspace - Cumulative airspace impacts associated with the proposed action are not 

anticipated given that coordination and scheduling procedures would be developed with 

the Mojave Airport Traffic Control Tower. In addition, the increase in flight activity at 

the Mojave Airport would be less than one percent, with all activities occurring below 

152 meters (500 feet). 

 Biological Resources - The cumulative noise and emissions from ongoing commercial, 

military, and private aviation activities; a series of up to 65 tethered flight tests; and the 

proposed action could adversely impact biological resources. However, there are limited 

biological resources found in region of influence and those that would be affected have 

been able to tolerate the existing noise and emissions associated with an active airport. 

The loss of 18.6 square meters (200 square feet) of potential wildlife habitat from the 

construction of two concrete pads would not be significant because the area supports 

minimal plant and wildlife species and is very similar to the surrounding area. Protective 

mitigation measures are in place for the federally listed, threatened desert tortoise 

(Gopherus agassizii); therefore significant cumulative impacts on threatened and 

endangered species are not anticipated. 

 Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Wastes - Cumulative impacts from hazardous 

materials and hazardous waste management could occur as a result of increased quantities 

of propellants and hazardous materials necessary to support ongoing commercial, 

military, and private aviation activities, a series of up to 65 tethered flight tests, and the 

proposed action. Propellants and other hazardous materials would be handled, stored, 

and used in compliance with all applicable regulations, which would minimize releases 

and associated environmental impacts. The activities considered in the cumulative 

impacts analysis would increase the amount of hazardous waste generated on site; 

however, on site waste management capacity is adequate to manage this amount of waste 

and Masten Space Systems would not exceed the regulatory limit of a conditionally 

exempt small quantity generator. No significant cumulative impacts would result from 

the use of hazardous materials and hazardous waste management. 

 Health and Safety - Cumulative impacts to health and safety could occur as a result of 

the increase in the quantity of propellants handled and in the number of both tethered 

flight tests and permitted launches conducted at the Mojave Airport. Because all 

operations would follow established safety procedures, no significant cumulative impacts 

on health and safety are expected. 

 Noise - Background noise at the Mojave Airport would increase with the increased level 

of activity from the tethered flight tests and permitted launches of the XA0.1, XA0.2, and 

XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets. During flight tests, the noise levels could potentially 

be very high, but because of the relative infrequency and short duration (a maximum burn 

time of 3 minutes) of these events, the overall impacts would be relatively small. The 
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impacts of flight tests would be relatively small when compared to the existing high 

intensity noise levels due to military jet flights and stationary rocket testing at the Mojave 

Airport, and no significant cumulative noise impacts are expected. 

 Transportation - Cumulative impacts to transportation could occur as a result of the 

increase in road traffic that would result from transporting equipment and personnel in 

support of ongoing aviation activities, the proposed action, and the tethered flight tests. 

The combined increase resulting from these activities would only add a few vehicles 

above existing traffic loads on Business SR-58. The small number of additional 

passenger vehicles and delivery trucks anticipated as part of the proposed action and 

tethered flight tests would not materially increase the number of traffic accidents, 

increase traffic congestion, or cause a decline in the level of service of local roadways, 

and so no significant cumulative impacts are expected. 

 Visual Resources - The construction of two concrete pads under the proposed action 

would be similar to existing airport infrastructure and would not significantly alter the 

current visual landscape. Tethered flight tests and permitted launches may attract and 

dominate the attention of a viewer in this area. However, due to the tests’ low altitude, 

limited number, and short duration, no significant cumulative impacts on visual resources 

are expected. 

 Water Resources - Cumulative impacts on water resources may result from incidental 

spills and releases associated with aircraft, launch vehicle, and reusable suborbital rocket 

preparation and propellant loading activities. Masten Space Systems would operate 

according to established spill prevention procedures and would be responsible for the 

clean up any of spills or releases associated with the proposed action and tethered flight 

tests; resulting in a small cumulative impact. 

Consistency with Community Planning 

The proposed action has been reviewed and has been found to be consistent with state and local 

planning objectives from the California state, Kern County, and local Mojave community 

governments. 

No Action Alternative 

Under the no action alternative, the FAA would not issue experimental permits to Masten Space 

Systems, and there would be no permitted launches of its XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 suborbital 

rockets at the proposed site. The Mojave Airport would continue its current services as a general 

aviation airport and a launch site. Masten Space Systems would not be able to conduct permitted 

launches of the XA0.1, XA0.2, and XL0.1 reusable suborbital rockets and the associated 

technologies in preparation for the X Prize Cup competition from this location. The predicted 

environmental effects of the proposed action or alternative 1 would not occur.