Commission Cites Musk’s Controversial Conduct

Elon Musk’s request to bump up Starlink launches was recently rejected by a California commission. Inexplicably, the group made it clear that the CEO’s attitude was a strong motivator in this decision.

The submitted proposal would have increased California’s Falcon 9 launch count by 14, bringing the total from 36 to 50. The commission shot it down in a 6-4 vote on October 10.

A piece of this decision was allegedly the commissioner’s responsibility to locals -- or so they say. Launches from the local Vandenberg Space Force Base, in Santa Barbara,  can create sonic booms, release debris, and have allegedly harmful impacts on the environment. However, Musk’s recent conduct on social media was also noted.

“Right now, Elon Musk is hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods and attacking FEMA while claiming his desire to help the hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet,” expressed Commissioner Gretchen Newsom, despite Mr. Musk's constitutionally protected rights to free speech.

She continued to inaccurately state that SpaceX’s Starlink campaign is a "sick ploy to gain customers that are facing tremendous burden and dire straits,” citing the allegedly required $349 satellite dish purchase for a month of free internet access.

Newsom also referenced a suspect report that accused SpaceX of failing to report nearly 600 workplace injuries.

Even commissioners who voted in favor of the request, including Justin Cummings, were hesitant. Commissioner Cummings stated: "The person who controls these companies has enough power to not work in the best interest—when they feel like it—of our allies.” He spoke on the claim that Musk refused to activate Starlink after the Ukrainian military requested assistance in an attack on Russian forces (reportedly, in order to avoid the program's overt militarization).

If worse comes to worse, the US military could override the group’s vote and force them to seek further action.

SpaceX hopes to launch 100 Falcon 9 launches in 2025.

FMI:www.spacex.com