In the news

Here’s the full text of a news release issued today by Environment Texas:

Environment Texas launched a petition drive today to stop the proposed construction of a spaceport on private land almost completely surrounded by a south Texas park and wildlife refuge. California company SpaceX – which made news last week when their commercial spacecraft successfully attached to the International Space Station – has applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for a license to launch million pound rockets from an area home to endangered sea turtles, ocelots and falcons.

“I love the space program as much, if not more, than anyone,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “But launching big, loud, smelly rockets from the middle of a wildlife refuge will scare the heck out of every creature within miles and sprays noxious chemicals all over the place. It’s a terrible idea and SpaceX needs to find another place for their spaceport.”

On Tuesday, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration outlining significant concerns with the proposed facility, which would include a hangar, a launch pad, a stand that contains a flame duct, propellant storage tanks, and more. TPWD wrote that “noise, heat, vibration, fencing and hazardous material spills” from the project could harm endangered and threatened species and diminish the value of Boca Chica State Park (near Brownsville) and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. SpaceX had previously approached TPWD about leasing parkland for the project, which the agency declined. SpaceX then instead leased 49 acres of land almost completely surrounded by the state park (see attached map).’

Environment Texas’ petition calls on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to find suitable land for the project elsewhere.