Blue Origin Urges FAA to Cap SpaceX Launches at Kennedy

The latest wrinkle in the long-standing feud between billionaire CEOs Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk sees the former lodge a public complaint with the regulator.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 03:51 PM ET

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Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos (pictured) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk are competing for dominance of the commercial spaceflight industry. [Courtesy: Blue Origin]

Key Takeaways:

Blue Origin has filed a public comment with the FAA, requesting that the regulator limit the number of SpaceX Starship launches from Kennedy Space Center due to safety, environmental concerns, and potential interference with Blue Origin's nearby operations.
This move is the latest development in the intense "billionaire space race" rivalry between Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos and SpaceX's Elon Musk, characterized by ongoing competition for commercial spaceflight contracts and past legal disputes.
The FAA will consider Blue Origin's non-binding comment as it evaluates SpaceX's proposal for up to 44 Starship launches annually and determines specific restrictions through an environmental impact statement.

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The billionaire space race between Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX has taken a dramatic turn.

Last week, Blue Origin filed a public comment to the FAA requesting that the regulator limit the number of launches of SpaceX’s Starship—the largest and most powerful rocket ever built—out of Launch Complex-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which currently hosts the company’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.