This controversy could be resolved immediately. Every space journalist, every space advocate, every member of Congress interested in space should demand of SpaceX, release the tapes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drq0P4yK7bM&t=285s&pp=2AGdApACAQ%3D%3D
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/09/faa-spacex-regulatory-dispute-simmers-on-as-sides-dig-in/
2 Comments
There’s no question the FAA is the organisation in the wrong here.
It’s enforcing bad rules inflexibly and needs a major reform and change of management and leadership.
Space X doesn’t get to do whatever it wants because they are doing “good stuff”. You don’t “go fast and break things” with legislations, land or people’s lives.
If they hadn’t been idiots and done the proper setup from the start, they wouldn’t have done a massive crater when they launch without any exhaust mitigation. But na, they had to do it without because Musk said they didn’t need it.