US court rejects environmental group's lawsuit, upholds FAA's decision to approve SpaceX's expanded launch operations

Jinse Finance reported that a U.S. federal district court judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by environmental groups. The lawsuit challenged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s 2022 decision to approve Elon Musk's SpaceX to expand its rocket launch operations near a national wildlife refuge in southern Texas. These groups argued that noise, light pollution, construction, and road traffic would also damage the area's environment. This area is the habitat of endangered ocelots and jaguarundis, as well as the nesting grounds for the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle and threatened shorebirds. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, based in Washington, stated that the FAA had fulfilled its obligation to "seriously consider the impact of lighting on nearby wildlife."