The 120m-tall spacecraft lifted off from South Texas on 20 April on the back of SpaceX’s new Super Heavy rocket. But just minutes after the launch, the two sections of the rocket failed to detach, causing Starship to begin spinning at altitude before exploding about four minutes after leaving the ground.
The launch site sits next to prime habitat for protected species and migratory birds, like the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and the piping plover. The launch showered the surrounding area with particulate matter that could have a detrimental impact on the wildlife.
The FAA has already permitted SpaceX to launch 20 Super Heavy rockets each year for the next five years.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), which aims to protect natural habitats under threat, the FAA decided to forego a full environmental review despite acknowledging the harm from SpaceX construction and launch activities.
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