SpaceX will spend about $2 billion on developing its Starship rocket program this year, according to the company’s CEO Elon Musk, following up on its first test flight last month which saw the rocket achieve several milestones before exploding about five minutes after liftoff.
During a discussion on Twitter Spaces over the weekend, as reported by CNBC, Musk said he expects Starship’s next flight will reach orbit.
He added that he does not expect SpaceX will need to raise funds to support its Starship program and other ventures.
Meanwhile, five environmental and cultural heritage groups are suing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over April’s SpaceX launch.
According to a court filing obtained by CNBC, the groups allege the FAA violated the National Environment Policy Act by allowing the launch to go ahead without an in-depth environmental review.
When the rocket exploded, it sent concrete and metal debris into sensitive habitat, spread particulate matter including pulverized concrete, and started a 3.5-acre fire on state park land near the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, CNBC reported.
“The FAA failed to take the requisite hard look at the proposed project and has concluded that significant adverse effects will not occur due to purported mitigation measures,” the plaintiffs argue in the filing, per CNBC.
The FAA did not respond immediately to the publication’s request for comment.
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