I suggest that it still is. The idea that a new completely commercial space operation could start in TX and raise the overall political power of the State bothers the left. They own CA, and FL is competitive. But TX has been historically conservative.

I worked with a sales rep who’s market sector was manufacturing in Central and South TX in the early 2000s. The turn over for his job was high, because it was a thin market. It is slightly better today. But a commercial boom in South TX could do wonders. The population is growing. After the next census, it will increase electorally speaking.

All this plays a small role in trying to get SpaceX out of TX.

Boca Chica (Starbase’s latitude of +25° 58′ 59″) is also basically the southernmost non-built-up area on the American eastward-facing coast available in the continental U.S. for a launch site – which means it takes maximum fuel-saving advantage of the earth’s rotation. Cape Canaveral’s (lighthouse’s) latitude is +28° 27′ 36″ – 2-1/2° north latitude greater than Starbase, while +26° latitude elsewhere in Florida puts one just south of Fort Lauderdale – not exactly available real estate.

I case you haven’t got the memo–we do fight for space. Hate SLS all you want—we punched it through.

Come to Alabama, Elon.

We will make Mobile all yours.

It is directly on the coast. Any problems and things land in the water.’

All the land around the launch site is already a water shed and closed to any further construction, but it is allowed to be used for recreation and scientific study.
The homes and the launch site were grandfathered in. That is why he tried to buy up the few homes that were already there. The hold outs are using the property as a site seeing opportunity.

As for any creatures inside the launch area none of them are endangered or even exclusive to living there, they are all over hundreds of miles of coast land.

The only reason for any restrictions now is just political. Just to see who swings the biggest pile of paper.

I wish I could believe that things would go faster if they were building and launching at the Cape, but my belief is that the FAA and FWS would be just as intrusive regardless of the existing history there, and NASA and the Air Force would be unable to resist adding their own pokers to the fire.

Guest: You are obviously new here, so you get to read my standard reply to your suggestion (written and cut and pasted in whenever people make this suggestion), which is an impossible and bad idea on many levels:
—————————
Why is it the first reaction of so many people when I post stories like this is to suggest that Elon Musk flee, to run away? Not only can’t he do it (both for legal and practical reasons), it is the worst possibly reaction to this government overreach.

It is time all Americans stopped running. There really is no where else to go. We need to stand and fight, and force the government and its intolerant minions to back down. Otherwise, freedom will continue to lose ground everywhere.

I expect Musk to fight, as he has fought and won previously.

As for moving:

1. Legally he can’t. SpaceX as a rocket company falls until strict federal regulations. No matter where he moves those regulations will apply, especially because much of his work force and materials will come from the U.S.

2. Practically he can’t. The qualified workers and infrastructure doesn’t exist in these other locations. You can’t simply recreate this kind of hi-tech company in South Africa, in Mexico, or any other third world country.

The DoD needs SpaceX, as NASA is no longer capable of performing its core mission. If SpaceX starts moving launch operations to a foreign country the DoD will overrule the pinheads at the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Considering all the (perhaps foreseeable) troubles Musk is having in South Texas, choosing Boca Chica as a launch site may not have been one of his best decisions after all. A question for the blog: On the day of his decision for Boca Chica (was that 2012?), were there any other serious alternatives?

Milt:

I assume that the absolute majority of these alien invaders are Mexican. Can’t one then view this process as meaning that this culture is taking back what already belonged to it before the US conquest of Texas? They are simply exploiting the weakness of the state (=declining empire) in which they are still peacefully invading.

Unhappily, I agree. With the possible exception of Senator Cruz, the politicians in Texas all *talk* a good game, but in practice they DO
NOTHING to oppose the “destroy America first” agenda of the Biden Administration and the puppet masters behind it.

As in the case of watching Texas being overrun by illegal alien invaders — and on this point Governor Abbott is as full of helium as Sergey Brin’s airship — it is clear that almost no one in the government of Texas cares a whit about either the economic benefits of SpaceX to their state or the future of America’s manned space program. Or at least not enough to actually “do” anything.

Given the history and culture of Texas, is sad to think that it has come to this, but it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the Lone Star State is now being led by people who are neither thoughtful nor courageous. (One imagines the defenders of the Alamo having long discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion and then inviting Santa Anna in to discuss reparations for all of the trouble that the American colonizers had been causing the Mexican government.) Texas, in short, appears to cheerfully embrace Biden’s vision for America, and if this should lead to the demise of SpaceX, oh, well.

Doug does not understand that the government is not using the regulatory process but is abusing it.

Doubting Thomas: I apologize if my response implied that YOU were praising or thanking Biden. I was referencing those you were quoting, who keep imagining the launch is just around the corner, and that this regulatory process is absolutely normal, to be expected.

BrewingFrog – I agree. Local Representatives Vicente Gonzalez and Filemon Vela both Democrats, have never issued any strong statements of support for Starbase and SpaceX. Senator Cruz has been an enthusiastic supporter, Senator Cornyn silent. Gov Abbott says he is a supporter.

All the best

Let me add many of these same people were tracking an August launch, then a September launch, then an October launch, none of which happened.

Why are so many Americans so willing to fool themselves?

Doubting Thomas; Whoopie-do! They might be able to launch in November! Praise be to Biden for his blessings.

Remember, when I predicted delays until the end of the year, people thought that absurd. Doug Messier said I didn’t understand the regulatory process. In the end, Biden and his thugs are doing exactly what I predicted, allowing or demanding the bureaucracy to go as slow as possible.

A November launch, should it happen, will be no victory, but proof that it will be forever impossible for SpaceX to use Boca Chica in any practical manner, until these goons are out of office and we have a major house-cleaning of the executive branch, tied with a major house-cleaning the regulator laws.

No notification yet from Cameron County on road closures but still a bit early

NASA WB-57 Calendar shows WSC-927 with an “Imaging Place Holder” for week of Nov 5 – 10. Concerning is that other 2 WB-57 are out of action in major upkeep through November.

USCG Local Notice to Mainers 20-23 Updated October 25th 2023 EXTRACT Below. STILL PRETTY BROAD.

FL/AL/MS/LA/TX – GULF OF MEXICO – Hazardous Space Operations – UPDATE
On November 6, 2023, between 5:25 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., rocket launching operations are scheduled to take place near Boca Chica Beach, Texas. *****Back-up launch dates and times include each day following November 1, 2023, between 5:25 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., until conditions permit the launch.*****
Mariners operating offshore in waters east of Brownsville, Texas, are advised of the scheduled rocket launching activities and associated hazardous areas……….

No corresponding NTM for area surrounding Hawaii

As they say environmentalists are like watermelons: green on the outside, red on the inside.

It seems different now though. Democrats have let psychopaths take over. These guys aren’t interested in bringing about the communist utopia. They just want to watch the world burn.

“Some men aren’t looking for anything logical like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
– Alfred in The Dark Knight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELKz-IfE2uc
1 minute

Or have the Chinese sent a message to their man in the White House that Space X is launching a bit too much and making them look bad?