After its initial attempt to launch its first Starship into orbit (which ended in a dramatic explosion), SpaceX submitted a document to the FAA claiming to dismiss the lawsuit filed by environmentalists. The company denied the allegations that Starship poses a threat to the wildlife habitat. 

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Debris litters the ground on April 22, 2023, after the SpaceX Starship liftedoff on April 20 for a flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. 

Refuting Claims of Environmentalists

In response to a recently filed lawsuit, SpaceX submitted a document to the FAA on Thursday, urging a federal court to dismiss the complaint while also refuting the claims that Starship endangers the wildlife habitat in Boca Chica, Texas. The company argued that the group lacks legal grounds for its claims of harming wildlife. 

SpaceX's initial attempt to launch its first Starship into orbit ended in a dramatic explosion, scattering potentially hazardous remains over a wide area. The incident also led to a fire spanning 3.5 acres of land within a state park. 

CNN reported that the environmental consequences of SpaceX's activities in the area of Texas have sparked a rising dispute among local residents regarding the presence of Elon Musk's prominent company. People in Port Isabel stated that the test flight and explosion have broken windows and shaken their homes. Dust also coated their homes, school, and even land.

This made environmentalists file a complaint against the company and the Federal Aviation of Administration. 

Filing Complaint

As per the lawsuit, Interesting Engineering reported that the activists allege that the government agency neglected its responsibility to thoroughly evaluate the potential environmental consequences associated with the Starship project. This happened shortly after the inaugural flight of this colossal rocket destined for Mars on April 20.

The Center for Biological Diversity, American Bird Conservancy, and other members of the environmental group claim that the FAA expedited the certification process for Starship and failed to thoroughly evaluate the potential harm the enormous rocket could inflict on the nearby ecosystems.

Also Read: SpaceX Will Launch 48 Starlink Satellites on July 7: How to Watch it Live

Additionally, the group also asserted that the FAA violated the National Environment Policy Act, letting SpaceX conduct launches without completing a comprehensive assessment known as an environmental impact statement.

"We must decide whether we will protect the wildlife and frontline communities that can be adversely affected by our desire to reach the stars, or whether we will leave a legacy of needless destruction in the scorching wake of rocket plumes," the group noted in its complaint.

Did the company plan this?

CNBC reported that SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk acknowledged this. While the vehicle contains 33 engines akin to a "box of grenades," the CEO and the whole team did not accurately prejudice that this would be destroyed or even particulate matter would rain down on residents and wildlife habitats. 

Related Article: NASA Partners With SpaceX, Blue Origin, and 5 Other US Companies to Advance Space Capabilities