SpaceX cleared to resume Falcon 9 rocket landings in The Bahamas

The Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAAB) announced Tuesday that it has granted approval for the private American aerospace and artificial intelligence company, SpaceX, to resume landing Falcon 9 rockets in Bahamian territory.

According to CAAB, the first landing is scheduled for Wednesday night between 5:00 and 9:30 p.m. local time.

“All requisite regulatory and environmental reviews and clearances have been completed in accordance with established aerospace safety and operations protocols,” the authority said, reminding residents that depending on weather and atmospheric conditions, “one or more sound booms may be heard during the landing sequence. The intensity and extent of these effects will vary based on environmental factors at this time of re-entry.”

Wednesday also marks the anniversary of Falcon 9’s successful test landing in the Exuma Sound last year. SpaceX had planned to land 20 Falcon 9 rockets in The Bahamas in 2025, but the programme was halted after a Starship test flight over Bahamian waters ended in disintegration.

The failed Starship test prompted Bahamian authorities to suspend all SpaceX landings while additional environmental studies were conducted to ensure the company’s activities would not pose risks to marine or terrestrial life.

With regulatory approvals now in place, SpaceX can resume its Falcon 9 landings in The Bahamas, continuing a programme that had previously been paused for safety and environmental considerations.