"The lawsuit centered on whether the FAA properly assessed the impact of SpaceX's operations on endangered wildlife, including ocelots, jaguarundis, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, as noted in a report from The Guardian. The plaintiffs argued that noise, light pollution, and construction activity degraded the surrounding habitat, which also serves as nesting grounds for threatened shorebirds. The lawsuit cited SpaceX's April 2023 Starship test, which destroyed its launchpad and scattered debris across a large area."
"Judge Carl Nichols, for his part, ruled that the FAA had satisfied its obligation"to take a hard look at the effects of light on nearby wildlife." The decision effectively cleared a regulatory hurdle for SpaceX, which has been working to expand Starship launch activity at its Boca Chica facility. SpaceX continues to scale its operations nationwide. Beyond Starship, the company is also seeking approval to nearly double Falcon rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, from 50 annually to 95."
A U.S. district court dismissed a lawsuit by conservation groups challenging the FAA's approval of SpaceX's expanded Starship launch operations at Boca Chica, Texas. The court concluded the FAA met its obligations in reviewing potential environmental effects, including impacts on endangered species such as ocelots, jaguarundis, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. Plaintiffs alleged noise, light pollution, construction, and a destructive April 2023 Starship test damaged habitats and nesting grounds. Judge Carl Nichols found the FAA satisfied its duty to take a hard look at light effects on wildlife, clearing a regulatory hurdle for SpaceX as it seeks to expand launch activity and scale operations nationwide.
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