Blue Origin Files Complaint Against SpaceX Over Environmental Impact

Blue Origin, the space firm owned by Jeff Bezos, has filed a complaint with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the environmental impact of SpaceX’s Starship rocket launches.

The complaint calls for limiting the number of times SpaceX can launch its new rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Environmental Concerns Raised:

In the complaint, Blue Origin highlighted several environmental concerns:

The potential release of dangerous chemicals into the air.
Production of loud noises that could disturb nearby towns due to closed roads.
Risks to people and property from explosions or debris.
The threat posed to the Kennedy Space Center, where Starship uses a large site for manufacturing.

FAA’s Environmental Impact Statement:

The FAA plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before approving further SpaceX Starship launches. Since April 2023, Starship has flown four times and reached space twice.

Elon Musk humorously responded to the complaint by posting on X (formerly Twitter).

Jeff Bezos vs. Elon Musk: The Timeline:

Founding and Achievements:

Blue Origin was founded in 2000, two years before SpaceX.
Blue Origin has conducted only short trips into space, while SpaceX routinely sends astronauts to the International Space Station, reuses rocket boosters, and has achieved sea landings for boosters.

Previous Oppositions and Lawsuits:

Blue Origin has long opposed the development of Starship, arguing it is too unwieldy and fuel-intensive.
Bezos sued NASA in August 2021 over its SpaceX contract, but a federal claims court dismissed the lawsuit. Last year, NASA awarded Blue Origin a separate lunar lander contract.
In 2021, Amazon’s satellite broadband company Kuiper Systems also attempted to prevent SpaceX from expanding Starlink. Musk accused Bezos of retiring “to pursue a full-time job filing lawsuits against SpaceX.”

Starship’s Environmental Assessments:

Starship had already undergone a thorough environmental assessment by the FAA for its South Texas operations. Earlier this month, the regulator revealed it had issued SpaceX its fourth test flight license.