The California Coastal Commission on Thursday rejected a proposal to increase the number of yearly rocket launches from Elon Musk’s SpaceX at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The commissioners unanimously voted down the push to increase launches of SpaceX rockets from 50 to 100 a year from the base north of Santa Barbara, citing concerns that they did not have enough information about the environmental and community impacts of doubling the number of launches.
“There are a number of unanswered questions that make it really quite impossible for us to engage,” Caryl Hart, vice chair of the commission, said at Thursday's meeting.
“Here today, once again, we see no appearance by U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force or SpaceX to answer the questions that we have, further indications that there just doesn't seem to be a willingness to provide further information,” she added.
The decision comes after SpaceX sued the commission last year over an earlier vote to deny an increase from 36 to 50 yearly launches, alleging political discrimination and regulatory overreach.
“Rarely has a government agency made so clear that it was exceeding its authorized mandate to punish a company for the political views and statements of its largest shareholder and CEO,” the complaint argues.
However, Musk’s firm appears poised to receive a boost from the federal government, after President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday easing regulations for commercial rocket launches and spaceport development.
This includes eliminating or expediting environmental reviews, as well as creating exemptions from or rescinding licensing regulations. The order also seeks to evaluate state and local restrictions on spaceport development.
The spacecraft and satellite communications company has already performed more than 100 launches this year from bases in California, Florida and Texas, according to SpaceX’s website.
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