SpaceX has dramatically increased the frequency of its rocket launches from a military base in Santa Barbara County, and its plans to launch even more have raised concerns from the California Coastal Commission about the effects on nearby and nearby communities.
The company, officially Space Exploration Technologies Corp. , owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has already violated an agreement between the base and the Coastal Commission that limited the number of annual launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base to six.
SpaceX has asked the commission for permission to conduct launches up to 36 times a year from Vandenberg, as well as to make up to 12 landings a year at an instantaneous launch complex and one offshore landing in the Pacific Ocean.
Visible for miles around, the launches can create breathtaking spectacles as the plane hurtles through the atmosphere, leaving a trail that follows the rocket’s trajectory.
But at the base, the launches can force the closure and evacuation of nearby beaches and campgrounds, and citizens have reported their windows shaking and slamming shut due to the obvious sonic booms.
“It’s very stressful when you feel something like a supersonic boom and you don’t expect it,” said Phil Simon, an Ojai resident for 25 years, who addressed the commission Wednesday. “I don’t know if the rockets introduced are different now, the trajectory is different, however, anything is different from what it was in the past. “
The California Coastal Commission on Wednesday reviewed the U. S. Space Force’s request. He spoke to the U. S. on behalf of SpaceX projects and heard citizens’ considerations on the proposal to increase the number of launches. The panel also questioned whether the commission would exercise greater oversight over the launches.
But it’s unclear whether the commission has the strength to restrict launches.
“We don’t allow roosters in this city, why can’t we do it with SpaceX?”Ojai resident Larry Steingold asked the board.
Tasked with protecting the state’s coastal resources, the state-owned company regulates land and water use along the coast and can factor or deny progression permits. When it comes to enforcing your will before federal agencies, such as the U. S. Department of Defense, the U. S. Department of Defense is not the only one who has been able to enforce your will. In the U. S. , the commission’s powers end.
The U. S. Space Force The U. S. Department of Defense made the request on behalf of SpaceX because the company is launching devices for the Department of Defense.
“[With] federal agencies, it’s much more about negotiation and equivalent power dynamics,” Cassidy Teufel, the commission’s deputy director, said at the meeting.
Federal agencies negotiate agreements with the commission on such projects, but ultimately, Teufel said, the commission’s approval is required.
“If the commission were to reject this proposal, the federal company could still move forward,” he said.
Although SpaceX is a private company, the Department of Defense has argued that all of Vandenberg’s launches (adding those made solely to make a profit from the company) are a “federal company activity” or are carried out on behalf of the company.
About 25 of SpaceX’s rocket launches from the base bring payloads from the department, said Space Force Col. Bryan Titus, the base’s deputy commander for operations.
However, the vast majority of rockets put satellites into orbit to SpaceX’s Starlink personal network, which provides web services.
SpaceX officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Despite the economic benefits to SpaceX itself, Titus argued that all the rockets introduced by the company represented a benefit to the Department of Defense, adding to its ability to develop its ability to launch more rockets.
“I can simply say that all launches that SpaceX does are the responsibility of the Department of Defense and our partners and allies,” he said at the meeting. “Starlink has surely played a critical role on the stage in Ukraine. “
“And our enemies,” replied Commissioner Dayna Bochco. Musk had a lot to say about it. “
Russia has banned the use of Starlink and the company said it denied supplying the technology to Russia. Still, Ukrainian military officials said Russian troops were using the satellite network to communicate the war.
Commissioners and citizens felt the effects of the increasing number of launches from Vandenberg.
Rocket launches that were halted near Jalama Beach for protection reasons were limited by the commission to a maximum of 12 this year, however, commission staff noted that this number exceeded in the first seven months of 2023.
According to a report from the services, SpaceX conducted thirteen rocket launches in 2022, more than double the number agreed upon that year. The company also surpassed that figure in 2023, with 28 launches, before first applying to the coastal commission in December for mission compliance. to increase that number to 36 consistently over the year.
In exchange for allowing more launches, SpaceX offered to place internet terminals at Jalama Beach, which can only handle bookings and notify visitors when an evacuation might take place.
The company also proposed adding a message board on the road leading to the beach to inform about an upcoming closure, saving some about 45 minutes by car.
As part of the agreement, the Ministry of Defense also offered to provide a round-trip bus to transport visitors off the beach during evacuations.
But commissioners expressed concern about the total number of launches from the base in the coming years, only through SpaceX but also through other corporations that work with the military.
Last year, 37 pitches were made at the base, Titus said.
“This year, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get closer to 50,” he said, adding that the Space Force expects that number to increase in the coming years.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Servicehas been researching potential effects on the domain and, according to Titus, has cleared the base for up to 110 launches a year without any negative effects on nearby animal life.
“We’re not going to hit 100 pitches anytime soon, but I don’t think I’m shy about saying that’s where we need to go,” he said.
If no deal is reached, employees said, the Defense Department will likely move forward anyway. The commission may also simply take the case to mediation or to court.
Commissioners delayed the vote to approve the deal with SpaceX for a month and instead told employees to consider the option of separating SpaceX launches from military and personal use, and to examine the cumulative effect of top launches on base.
Around the same time, SpaceX announced that another of its nine Falcon rockets were due to lift off Thursday morning.
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