SpaceX files to join FAA as defendant in lawsuit trying to shut down Boca Chica
SpaceX on May 19, 2023 submitted a motion to become a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and others that demands its Starship/Superheavy launchsite at Boca Chica be shut down.
“SpaceX’s Starship/Super Heavy launch program hinges on the FAA’s review and licensing decision challenged here. If the Court were to rule in Plaintiffs’ favor, the FAA’s decision could be set aside, and further licensing of the Starship/Super Heavy Program could be significantly delayed, causing severe injury to SpaceX’s business,” the company said in the motion, which was filed on May 19.
The full motion can be read here [pdf].
SpaceX’s motion notes that it has followed all government regulations in the decade since it established its Boca Chica launch site, and invested more than $3 billion in doing so. The motion points out that “the FAA does not adequately represent SpaceX’s interests” and that the company must participate because the lawsuit will have direct financial impact on its business.
In other words, the big guns are now being hauled out against this lawsuit, which on its face is somewhat weak. We shall see if it can withstand the much more aggressive fight that SpaceX is certain to put up.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
SpaceX on May 19, 2023 submitted a motion to become a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and others that demands its Starship/Superheavy launchsite at Boca Chica be shut down.
“SpaceX’s Starship/Super Heavy launch program hinges on the FAA’s review and licensing decision challenged here. If the Court were to rule in Plaintiffs’ favor, the FAA’s decision could be set aside, and further licensing of the Starship/Super Heavy Program could be significantly delayed, causing severe injury to SpaceX’s business,” the company said in the motion, which was filed on May 19.
The full motion can be read here [pdf].
SpaceX’s motion notes that it has followed all government regulations in the decade since it established its Boca Chica launch site, and invested more than $3 billion in doing so. The motion points out that “the FAA does not adequately represent SpaceX’s interests” and that the company must participate because the lawsuit will have direct financial impact on its business.
In other words, the big guns are now being hauled out against this lawsuit, which on its face is somewhat weak. We shall see if it can withstand the much more aggressive fight that SpaceX is certain to put up.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Government Agencies do seem to enjoy being sued now.
What better way to get money to your friends?
Punishing your enemies is just a bonus.
It was just announced that Elon musk will appear with DeSantis in Rons announcement Running for president…
It’ll be interesting to see how this all ties together.
“Elon musk will appear with DeSantis”
That’s too bad. DeSantis is swamp. He has the full backing of the swamp: the Bush family, RINO bloggers, Fox news….
James Street: Based on what DeSantis has done, I see no evidence that he is a creature controlled by the swamp. Instead, he appears to be a hard-nosed man of principles unafraid of anyone in his effort to do the right thing, for freedom and law and morality.
From the article:
Essentially, these groups are complaining about a non-problem, a problem that did not happen, despite an unforeseen worst-case scenario (or even a worse-than-anticipated-worst-case scenario). The fire isn’t the first, yet launches were approved despite the occasional brush fire. Heck, even nature causes its own brush fires. Should we revoke nature’s license to operate in the area? Outlaw lightening strikes? Hmm.
Robert, as long as DeSantis keeps “saying the quiet parts out loud” he is worthy of support. As is Trump for the same reason. May the best man win.
My preference? That Trump gets back in the White House, DeSantis stays as governor, and they – along with Kristi Noem, Greg Abbott and others – work together to leverage federalism to move as much power as they can out of occupied DC.
My fear is that the GOP campaign consultants will pressure DeSantis and/or Trump to stop “saying the quiet parts out loud” and either/both end up up like Scott Walker in 2016. That could result from enough people throwing Trump under the bus because they prefer a fire-and-forget hero to defending the need for his disruptive approach and STQPOL.
Edward, you know how they think: the presence of man is the problem. Their cognitive dissonance regarding the origin of lightning strikes never registers with them because of that.
Jester Naybor: We are in agreement on all points.
Re: Desantis – Robert wrote:
“I see no evidence that he is a creature controlled by the swamp.”
As did I at first. I was happy to see the way Florida was pushing back. Then a few months ago I read this:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/08/19/for-those-with-eyes-to-see/
Almost everything predicted months ago has come true.
Jester “gets it!” Proper use of Federalism and the Courts are the only means to stave off – short of proper education (a much longer term solution), what is the inevitable result. The most “uncivil” of acts, civil war……..
What fun it can be to read what seem to be boring documents. We dan learn so very much about an organization.
For quite some time, we have been unsure how much of the nearly $10 billion that SpaceX has raised for Starship and for Starlink has gone into each of these projects. We now have a good idea.
From the document filed for SpaceX’s motion to intervene:
Elsewhere, the filing tells us the beginning date for this amount of expenditure:
This does not give us a definitive number, but we now have a lower limit on how much SpaceX has invested in Starship. Since it is in the company’s best interest to give as large a number as possible, we can be fairly sure that SpaceX has not yet invested $4 billion in this project.
Although this amount also includes the development of infrastructure and ground support, it gives us a better number for comparing the Starship/Super Heavy development with other rocket development projects.