(Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
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The US Air Force is moving ahead with plans to increase Starlink-related launches at a California military base, despite opposition from a local government commission.
After completing an environmental impact study, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) will increase the maximum number of SpaceX rocket launches from 50 to 100 per year at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
In August, the California Coastal Commission unanimously voted to reject raising the cap on rocket launches from the base, citing a lack of information from both the military and SpaceX. The DAF's decision will bypass the commission’s objections, according to the military’s environmental review, which says it can override the local regulator since the military’s plan is ”consistent with the enforceable policies of California’s approved Coastal Management Program.”
In August, President Trump also signed an executive order to exclude environmental regulations from spaceport development.
The increase in launches grabbed headlines last year after the commission voted to deny SpaceX’s initial request, citing Elon Musk’s controversial politics. In response, the Air Force kicked off a process to bypass the commission, while raising the previous cap from 36 to 50 Falcon 9 rocket launches.
The increase to 100, which covers commercial and government launches (such as those from NASA) is a win for SpaceX. The company has been using Vandenberg to launch new satellites for its Starlink internet system, which serves over 2 million users in the US. The Air Force is also justifying the launch increase, citing SpaceX’s role in defense, "including deploying satellites and other space assets that enable intelligence, reconnaissance, and global security operations.”
But the launch increase has faced opposition from local residents concerned about noise and disruptions to local wildlife. The Air Force’s decision means SpaceX can not only increase the number of Falcon 9 rocket launches, but also start using its more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, a first for the site. The US has cleared the company to launch and land up to five Falcon Heavy vehicles per year from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 6.
(Credit: USAF)The Air Force’s plan, dubbed “Alternative 1,” also calls for SpaceX to construct a new 62,000-square-foot hangar to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy integration and processing.
SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The California Coastal Commission declined to comment.