The FAA issues long-awaited environmental decision on SpaceX's Starship program in Boca Chica:
Mitigated FONSI (Finding Of No Significant Impact), requiring over 75 additional protective measures but effectively clearing a major hurdle for Texas launches. cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
FAA in a statement says SpaceX is required "to take more than 75 actions to mitigate environmental impacts from its proposed plan" before a launch license is considered.
The FAA has some straightforward requirements for SpaceX, such as:
– daily inspections during turtling hatching season
– road closure limitations during holidays and weekends
– quarterly beach cleanups cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
SpaceX also must make $5,000 annual contributions to select organizations:
– Adopt-an-Ocelot program
– Endangered birds of prey non-profit
– Texas recreational fishing program cnbc.com/2022/06/13/faa…
The FAA also has some (in my opinion) surprising requirements for SpaceX:
– Report on the Mexican and Civil wars
– highway pull-off & platform for viewing wildlife
Elon Musk is holding a Twitter Spaces discussion on SpaceX's first Starship launch.
Thread:
Musk: "The outcome was roughly in what I expected, and maybe slightly exceeding my expectations, but roughly what I expected, which is that we would get clear of the pad."
Musk: "I'm glad to report that the pad damage is actually quite small" and should "be repaired quickly."
After the dramatic first Starship Super Heavy launch, a look at SpaceX's monster rocket program – with the good (prototypes in the wings), the bad (destruction and debris at and around the launchpad) and the unknown (regulator investigations underway): cnbc.com/2023/04/29/spa…
NASA chief @SenBillNelson: “I have asked, so I can report to you ... SpaceX is still saying that they think it will take at least two months to rebuild the launchpad and concurrently about two months to have their second vehicle ready to launch." cnbc.com/2023/04/29/spa…
@SenBillNelson Nelson effectively defended SpaceX before a Congressional committee on Thursday, explaining how the company is "hardware rich:"
"They launch, if something goes wrong they figure out what it is, they go back and they launch it again." cnbc.com/2023/04/29/spa…
SpaceX is preparing to launch for the 29th time this year, and the second time this evening, with a Falcon Heavy rocket carrying satellites for Viasat and Astranis.
This rocket is expendable, so its boosters will not be recovered.
Watch live:
Falcon Heavy is standing tall to launch in a little over 10 minutes
ULA CEO Tory Bruno
SpaceX VP of Commercial Sales Tom Ochinero
Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel
Rocket Lab $RKLB Senior Director Richard French
Blue Origin VP of Commercial Sales Ariane Cornell