SpaceX is on track to resume Falcon 9 booster landings in Bahamian waters before the end of the year, with plans for up to 20 additional recoveries at the Exuma Sound site pending government approval. The announcement was made during the Ministry of Education’s Starlink rollout event at CH Reeves Junior High School. Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer, revealed that the company is nearing completion of regulatory requirements for a second landing at the same deep-water site used for the historic recovery on February 18. ‘We are currently finalizing the regulatory process to ensure the environmental review is complete and that all monitoring and upkeep requirements are met,’ Gillis stated. ‘We are close to achieving a second landing in Exuma and are collaborating with regulatory authorities to expedite the process.’ Gillis added that SpaceX aims to complete another landing by the end of 2025, with a target set for this year. ‘We don’t have much time left this year, so it should happen soon,’ she noted. Future landings will exclusively use the Exuma Sound site, with SpaceX planning up to 20 additional recoveries once approvals are secured. Environmental concerns arose following February’s landing, particularly regarding marine impacts and sonic booms. Gillis emphasized that the ongoing review includes comprehensive assessments. ‘We’ve conducted extensive modeling and predictions to ensure safety,’ she explained. ‘The site is sufficiently distant from sensitive areas, minimizing risks. We will also implement rigorous monitoring before, during, and after the landing to track any environmental impact. All predictions indicate minimal impact, aside from the instantaneous sound of the sonic boom.’ Discussions with Bahamian regulators have been positive, according to Gillis. Falcon 9 landings are a key component of SpaceX’s reusability program, which reduces launch costs by enabling boosters to return to Earth for multiple uses. An Environmental Impact Assessment released in September found the first landing had ‘minimal’ environmental effects but identified gaps in underwater noise measurements, recommending enhanced monitoring for future missions.