President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday easing regulations for commercial rocket launches and spaceport development, in a move likely to boost Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The order calls for eliminating or expediting environmental reviews for rocket launches and exempting launch vehicles from or rescinding licensing regulations. <\/p>\n
It also seeks to evaluate state and local restrictions on spaceport development, in addition to expediting environmental and administrative reviews for building the infrastructure for launches. <\/p>\n
\u201cEnsuring that United States operators can efficiently launch, conduct missions in space, and reenter United States airspace is critical to economic growth, national security, and accomplishing Federal space objectives,\u201d Trump\u2019s order reads. <\/p>\n
It aims to \u201csubstantially\u201d increase commercial space launches and \u201cnovel space activities\u201d by the end of the decade. <\/p>\n
Environmental advocates were immediately wary of the move. The Center for Biological Diversity slammed the order as \u201creckless,\u201d arguing it puts people and wildlife at risk from rockets that often explode and \u201cwreak devastation on surrounding areas.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cBending the knee to powerful corporations by allowing federal agencies to ignore bedrock environmental laws is incredibly dangerous and puts all of us in harm\u2019s way,\u201d Jared Margolis, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. \u201cThis is clearly not in the public interest.\u201d <\/p>\n
The order will likely be a boon to Musk\u2019s SpaceX, one of the biggest players in the commercial space industry<\/a>. The spacecraft and satellite communications firm has conducted more than 100 launches so far this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n