Estimated Time to Read: 3 minutes
A bipartisan group of Texas State Representatives has sent a letter to Michael Whitaker, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), urging approval of SpaceX’s request to increase the number of Starship launches at its Starbase facility in Cameron County, Texas. The proposal seeks to raise the launch cadence from 5 to 25 annual launches.
Who Signed The Letter?
The letter was authored by a bipartisan group of nearly 40 House lawmakers from across Texas:
- Keith Bell (R-Forney)
- Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood)
- Benjamin Bumgarner (R-Flower Mound)
- DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne)
- Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock)
- Angie Chen Button (R-Garland)
- Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park)
- Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake)
- Charles Cunningham (R-Humble)
- Pat Curry (R-Waco)
- Drew Darby (R-San Angelo)
- Jay Dean (R-Longview)
- Jill Dutton (R-Ben Wheeler)
- Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville)
- Sam Harless (R-Spring)
- Cody Harris (R-Palestine)
- Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian)
- Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant)
- Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi)
- Carrie Isaac (R-Wimberley)
- Ken King (R-Canadian)
- Stan Kitzman (R-Brookshire)
- Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa)
- Janie Lopez (R-San Benito)
- J.M. Lozano (R-Kingsville)
- John Lujan (R-San Antonio)
- Armando Martinez (D-Weslaco)
- Eddie Morales (D-Eagle Pass)
- Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria)
- Candy Noble (R-Lucas)
- Angelia Orr (R-Itasca)
- Dennis Paul (R-Houston)
- Richard Peña Raymond (D-Laredo)
- Matt Shaheen (R-Plano)
- Carl Tepper (R-Lubbock)
- Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands)
- Terri Leo-Wilson (R-Galveston)
State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville) posted to social media,
“I’m proud our House District is home to the new SpaceX Starlink manufacturing facility. We want more of those beautiful rockets in the sky and America leading the way in Space, not China! That’s why I spearheaded this effort to urge the FAA to approve increasing Starship launches from 5 to 25 per year in South Texas. Let’s get this done Elon Musk.”
Source: Twitter/X Post by State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville), 12.16.2024
Key Takeaways From the Letter
The letter highlights the pivotal role SpaceX plays in advancing the U.S. space program. The Starship system, developed in South Texas, is the world’s first fully reusable rocket and the most powerful ever flown. It supports NASA’s Artemis program as the Human Landing System (HLS), designed to return astronauts to the lunar surface. Additionally, Starship is contracted with the Department of Defense for critical national defense missions.
Beyond innovation, the lawmakers emphasize SpaceX’s contributions to the Texas economy. The increased launches will continue to support thousands of direct and indirect jobs through construction, supply chains, and operational activities, injecting billions into the state’s economy.
Addressing environmental concerns, the letter references findings in the Revised Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX’s increased cadence proposal. According to this assessment:
- Greenhouse gas emissions from the increased launches would be minimal, with no significant impact on air quality.
- There would be no significant effects on water resources, wildlife habitats, or endangered species.
- Overall, the proposal aligns with the conclusions of the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment, reinforcing that no harm to the environment is expected.
Lawmakers reaffirm SpaceX’s proven commitment to safety and environmental responsibility, expressing confidence that these standards will persist as operations scale.
The letter underscores the importance of the Starbase facility as a “one-of-a-kind” launch site for maintaining America’s competitive edge in the global space race, particularly relative to competitors like China. The lawmakers argue that delays in approval could hinder American innovation and leadership.
Final Thoughts
The Texas Legislature’s strong support for SpaceX’s increased launch cadence underscores the critical intersection of innovation, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. As SpaceX continues to expand its operations at Starbase, all eyes are on the FAA to approve a proposal that can launch Texas—and America—further into the stars.
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