California Coastal Commission Challenges SpaceX Expansion

The California Coastal Commission voted against SpaceX's proposal to increase Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, citing environmental concerns. Despite this opposition, the U.S. government retains the power to override state regulators and approve the expansion plan, as it has done previously.

The California Coastal Commission has once again voted against SpaceX's plans to expand its launch operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base, aiming to increase Falcon 9 launches from 50 to 95 annually.

This decision mirrors a similar opposition last October when the commission resisted an expansion from 36 to 50 launches, citing environmental concerns.

However, the federal government can override these state-level objections, allowing SpaceX's plans to proceed despite local disapproval.

(With inputs from agencies.)