Elon Musk ’s SpaceXlaunchedits 475th Falcon 9 Eruca sativa from Cape Canaveral , Florida , on Wednesday , delivering yet another batch of Starlink satellites to blank space . This workhorse is far and forth the most - launched American orbital arugula in story , and it wo n’t be slow down anytime soon .
SpaceX purport to more than double the number of Falcon launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station , increasing from 50 to 120 per twelvemonth . To do this , the company hasaskedthe Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) to change its licence and allow it to construct a new first - stage booster landing place geographical zone .
This could result in an average charge per unit of one launching every three days from this site alone , the Indian River Lagoon Roundtablewrotein a recent alphabetic character to the FAA . This local environmental advocacy group is one of several vocalise the alarum on SpaceX ’s proposal .
SpaceX launched the Intelsat IS-40e satellite on board a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on 28 April 2025.© SpaceX
In reply to SpaceX ’s permit limiting petition , the FAA has been value the emissions released by Falcon 9 skyrocket when they burn during launching and booster landing place . In March , the agencyreleaseda draft environmental assessment finding that increase Falcon launching would not significantly impact Cape Canaveral ’s wildlife or home ground .
But these environmentalists disagree . In letters sent to the FAA — which accept public comment on SpaceX ’s proposal through Thursday — protagonism groups highlighted multiple potentially harmful impacts , Florida Todayreports .
Both the Indian River Lagoon Roundtable and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council ( SAFMC)warnedthat 120 launches per class could foul the water , air , and grunge . As these pollutant bioaccumulate in fish , it “ could lead to the Pisces being uneatable and therefore unsellable by fishermen , ” SAFMC write .
Audubon Floridatoldthe FAA that launching natural process could abridge opportunity for prescribed fire direction . Many industrial plant and animal species in Cape Canaveral are fire - adapt , as this area has one of the highest rates of lightning ten-strike in all of North America . Over the last decade , assure burns have played an essential function in preserve and improve habitat for threatened metal money such as the scrub jay , a songbird species that Audubon Florida specifically named in its letter .
The FAA plan to integrate these position into a terminal environmental assessment . But its draft assessment states that hazardous material and unanimous waste matter generated by SpaceX would be handled in accordance of rights with all Union , state , and local regulations , including Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ’s mandates .
Falcon launch have become routine in the Sunshine State . Last yr , Florida ’s Space Coast — which admit both Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center — hosted a record - setting 93 launch , the majority of which were by SpaceX.
In addition to ramping up Falcon ’s launching docket , SpaceX plans to invest at least $ 1.8 billion to bring Starship to Florida by 2030 , Governor Ron DeSantis ’ officesaidin a February instruction . presently , this toilsome - lift rocket launches from the companionship ’s headquarters in Boca Chica , Texas .
Over the last yr , environmental groupshavescrutinizedSpaceX ’s impact on Boca Chica , pointing to pollution , habitat end , wildlife endangerment , and other concerns . “ Experimental activity of this order of magnitude has no home in South Texas , where rare and threatened plants and brute hang to survival , ” Defenders of Wildlifewroteof Boca Chica last October .
Some Floridians are intelligibly distressed that spaceship will aggravate these issues in their land , too . SpaceX is develop two potential launch site for this heavy - aerodynamic lift Eruca vesicaria sativa in Florida , one at Kennedy Space Center and the other at Cape Canaveral , Reutersreportedin March .
During a practical public FAA auditory modality on May 8 , clean - body of water militant Toni Shifalo of Titusville , Florida , state : “ I have no problem , really , with the Falcon 9s . But I worry when Elon Musk require to bring the Starship from Texas , ” allot to Florida Today .
Shifalo pointed to increased exhaust system trails and possible industrial wastewater discharges threatening Indian River Lagoon , Florida Today report . This lagune is already front changing water menstruum patterns , home ground loss , degenerate water system and sediment quality , and losses of native metal money , harmonise to theIndian River Lagoon Species Inventory .
Gizmodo reach out to the FAA and SpaceX for scuttlebutt . The FAA pointed to its draft environmental judgement and the transcript of the May 8 public meeting . SpaceX did not respond by the time of publication .
As Cape Canaveral becomes an progressively critical hub for the country ’s rapidly mature space economy , it appears that environmentalists will push for more scrutiny of the industry ’s environmental encroachment .
Falcon 9marine conservationSPACEX
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
intelligence from the future , render to your present tense .
You May Also Like
