https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/spacex-test-fires-starship-as-faa-reviews-key-license-for-first-orbital-launch/ar-AAPPfQM?li=BBnb7Kz

November... at last. Will be very exciting. 👍

You have to laugh at the "environmental concerns" to the local area and wildlife. Cape Canaveral sits inside the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. If it is OK for NASA, then it is OK for SpaceX.

Yeah, some double standards going on there. The environmental impact is obviously something that should be considered and the environment protected as much as possible, but we aren't going to get back to the Moon or get to Mars without accepting some impact on the environment. Hopefully minor.

Environmental impact didn't enter the debate when we went to the Moon in the 60's.

Huge sprawling airports cover the countryside all over the world. Cities that are akin to concrete jungles.  And now, because its SpaceX, and ignoring the huge benefits (including to the environment) that can come from this endeavour, the environment is suddenly an issue. 

We are our own worst enemies sometimes. Reminds me of the anti-renewable energy crowd. Oh no, you cant have wind turbines, birds might fly into them, ignoring the fact that more animals will be saved by reducing our carbon footprint and limiting warming, and ignoring the fact that more birds are killed flying into conventional power stations. 

 

Long term benefits need to be considered, and sometimes that requires short term negatives. 

Edited October 27, 20214 yr by martin-w