US Regulator Faces Lawsuit from Conservation Groups over SpaceX Launches

Several US conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for not doing enough to protect the environment from SpaceX’s Starship program. The move comes after the world’s most powerful rocket exploded on its first integrated test flight, just four minutes after launching from Boca Chica, Texas on April 20. The launch site also sits next to a vital habitat for protected species, including Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and the piping plover bird, according to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), which was among the groups that filed the lawsuit. The FAA awarded SpaceX a license to launch 20 Starships a year for five years, while requiring Elon Musk’s company carry out monitoring of vegetation and wildlife by a qualified biologist, including conducting a pre- and post-launch survey. But these mitigation measures are not enough, according to the conservation groups, who are calling for a full environmental review.