The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is conducting its own assessment of SpaceX's modifications for the Starship launch site, separate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and may take up to 135 days to issue a final biological assessment, which could cause further delays in the launch schedule. The FWS review is necessary due to potential environmental impacts on protected wildlife refuges and endangered species in the area. SpaceX may need to transfer all of its launch capabilities to Cape Canaveral to avoid the red tape and delays associated with the current launch site.
1. The speaker is experiencing equipment failures and is using backup equipment.
2. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting their own assessment of SpaceX's post-mishap modifications.
3. The review process could take 30 to 135 days.
4. The FAA has yet to grant SpaceX necessary approvals for its proposed second flight.
5. Environmental concerns regarding the discharging of industrial process waste water must be addressed before clearance is given for another flight.
6. The FWS assessment could significantly disrupt SpaceX's timelines for relaunching Starship.
7. The FWS has not yet begun their formal review of SpaceX's upgrades.
8. The FWS cares about the safety and security of endangered species and protected Wildlife refuges, and not about NASA's or SpaceX's agendas.
9. The FWS has the potential to delay the launch further.
10. SpaceX may need to seriously consider transferring all of their launch capabilities out to Cape Canaveral.