HAWTHORNE, CA (National Presse) – SpaceX is reportedly in discussion with Australia to create a launch pad in the southern hemisphere. The California-based company, owned by Elon Musk, is wanting to expand their operational footprint.
The United States government signed a $1-billion agreement with the Australian Space Agency, which basically states anything the US launches from Australia will remain property of the United States. Australia is planning to launch over 100 rockets within the next decade.
It is unclear how the wildlife in the outback will respond to constant SpaceX rocket launches. Sources within the space community states that SpaceX is looking to provide the same reusable rocket technology in Australia, which could pose an issue as that belongs under the US control.
In addition to expanding Australia, the Crew Dragon re-entries starting in 2025 will splashdown in the Pacific rather than the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX had complaints from the FAA that while the Crew Dragon module flies through most of the United States to splashdown in the gulf, it poses a significant risk of having debris come off and hit unsuspecting cities.
This is happened in 2003 with Space Shuttle Columbia as it soared to the heavens over the eastern Texas and Louisiana region. The shuttle broke apart after a failed re-entry, killing all seven astronauts on-board.
