California officials cite Elon Musk’s politics in denying SpaceX launches

Elon Musk’s recent political tweets are NOW impacting SpaceX’s ability to launch MORE rockets from California’s central coast.

THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION REJECTED a proposal from the Air Force that would have allowed SpaceX to launch up to 50 rockets a year from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

ONE OF THE REASONS BEHIND THE REJECTION?

APPARENTLY HOW MUSK BEHAVES ONLINE.

IN THE MEETING DISCUSSING THE AIR FORCE’S PROPOSAL – 

Commissioner Gretchen Newsom expressed serious concerns OVER MUSK’S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

SAYING “Elon Musk is hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods and attacking FEMA while claiming his desire to help the hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet.”

WHILE THE COMMISSIONER DIDN’T HOLD BACK CRITICISM OF THE SPACE X OWNER –

Karah Rucker

THE COMMISSION CITED OTHER REASONS TO REEL IN SPACE X LAUNCHES OFF CALIFORNIA’S COAST.

PRIMARILY – CATEGORIZING SPACE-X LAUNCHES AS MILITARY ONES.

WHICH ALLOWS THE COMPANY TO BYPASS RULES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS.

THE clash between the Coastal Commission and the Space Force isn’t new.

THE DISPUTE IS LARGELY OVER THE COMMISSION WANTING MORE TO BE DONE BY THE AGENCY TO PROTECT THE BEACHES AND NEARBY WILDLIFE.

LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ASKED TO INCREASE SpaceX’s launches from six to 36 per year. 

THE COMMISSION WAS RESISTANT – BUT ULTIMATELY APPROVED THE LAUNCHES WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENT SAFETY.

AHEAD OF THIS WEEK’S MEETING LOOKING TO UP THE NUMBER OF LAUNCHES TO 50 –

THE AIR FORCE SAID IT WOULD MEET THE COMMISSIONS CONDITIONS –

WHICH INCLUDES REDUCING SONIC BOOMS – AND INCREASING WILDLIFE MONITORING.

FOR THE COMMISSION – THAT WASN’T ENOUGH –

VOTING 6 TO 4 TO DENY THE REQUEST –

WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS EXPRESSING CONCERNS OVER THE MAN BEHIND THE SPACE X MISSION –

CITING MUSK’S RECENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN THEIR DISSENT.

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