Hello fellow concerned citizens of Earth,

SpaceX is now pushing for 100 annual launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base. That could mean a launch with up to 2 booms every 3 to 4 days. This is not a warning about what might happen—it is under way now. Remember, SpaceX sued in federal court over the Coastal Commission’s denial of a 40% launch-frequency increase (from 36 to 50 launches). Without resolving that lawsuit, Spacex doubled the request. Credible sources have said that a giant SpaceX Starship launch schedule is inevitable.

In retrospect, this entire situation has been a slippery slope. SpaceX is salami slicing away federal and local environmental safeguards as everybody looks on—using Assemblyman Bill Essayli’s AB10, political offices, and lawyers to chip away at oversight. Each new maneuver, lawsuit, or request attacks the protections we have set for our coast—the Central Coast—and our quality of life. We’re not parroting a cliche, “The Central Coast is beautiful” or “Not in my backyard”. We’re pointing out how this affects the essence of our daily routines and rejecting the prospect of regular interruptions by heavily-scheduled supersonic commercial launch activity. The psychologies and sensitivities of people experiencing the booms are part of the launch environment.

The impact on vulnerable populations, like the elderly, many with underlying health conditions or sensitivities, and unhoused people with no structure to buffer them from the physical effects of the seemingly random booms, isn't just about single events. The cumulative stress of near-constant launches, with their associated noise and pressure, can significantly exacerbate existing health problems and contribute to a decline in overall well-being.

We value responsible innovation and exploration. However, the order of scale of commercial launches at Vandenberg has exploded. It's not just the quantity that's changed; it's the quality. Will our surrounding communities feel as comfortable with near-constant booms from a private company launching its 40,000th satellite for profit as we were with the occasional, and arguably more meaningful, booms from NASA missions? Driven by SpaceX's Starlink, this transformation of Vandenberg's purpose requires a public reckoning: does this era of large-scale commercial space transport truly align with the values of those who bear the brunt of its sonic impact, or offer them any meaningful benefit in return? And crucially, is SpaceX offering sufficient recompense to the community for exploiting a public resource and imposing the externalities of its operation on the local population? We have to acknowledge this new reality: this is not NASA, and it’s not a publicly owned, collective American aspiration—it’s a private venture operating on a public launchpad. At a scale we have never experienced, only to grow. Also, we can’t assume that just because the activities all pertain to space transport, they’re like-for-like - the fundamental nature of the launchpad’s purpose has been shifted without the local public’s consent. The distinction between Public and Private Business activity is serious.

Meanwhile, my other home, South Texas: SpaceX has already weakened rules and oversight at its Boca Chica launchpad to the point of effectively escaping responsibility for wetland damage—disregarding federal government constraints—and leaving local communities with noise, debris, and reneged agreements regarding environmental conservation.

We have to document our understanding and opposition right now. With our petition, we call on SpaceX to:

 1. Undergo thorough environmental reviews in a highly public process before any new or increased launch activities.

 2. Respect agencies like the California Coastal Commission and stop trying to override their authority on these matters.

 3. Invest in sustainable practices that reduce harm to local communities and habitats.

The upcoming January Department of the Air Force public scoping meetings give us our only chance to speak up and be officially recorded, even if only for posterity. Open-ended expansion will look very different in 50 or 75 years. Please attend these meetings and make your voice heard if you can. The final meeting is remote; dates and locations are available here: https://www.vsfbfalconlauncheis.com.

Thank you for your support. Every signature on this petition, whether added recently or months ago, strengthens our collective voice. As we face the plausibility of SpaceX exceeding reasonable limits at Vandenberg before the end of January, it is vital that we, as a community, document our concerns and experiences. Your participation helps ensure that the impacts of these commercial operations on our lives and well-being are not dismissed or disregarded.

Best,

Chris