Rocket landing igniting controversy

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

Environmentalist Joe Darville has reiterated his reservations regarding the upcoming landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster in Bahamian waters, scheduled for February 17 off the coast of The Exumas.

Mr Darville, who has previously expressed similar concerns, highlighted the need for transparency and caution regarding the event’s potential environmental impact. He raised concerns about possible harm to wildlife, particularly birds, and emphasised that the public must be informed of any risks.

While he does not oppose the event, Mr Darville cautioned careful consideration of the landing site and any potential vibrations or disruptions that could occur.

“I would want to reiterate the same concerns. I know we have had spacecrafts landed before in our territory, and that has been basically in the ocean. I don’t think they’re aiming to land it on any hard ground but in the water. From what has happened in the past when they landed in the ocean in Bahamian territory, there hasn’t been any catastrophic results, and so the same type of caution that has been taken in the past should definitely be exercised now,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

He also referenced a recent incident involving debris from a rocket launch landing in Turks and Caicos waters, saying: “With all of the scientific mechanisms they have and all of the guided assistance, they should know by now to guide it into water off of land. If it lands on land, it will create some damage, but if it lands on water, the impact will be minimal, though it might affect marine life in the specific area.”

Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which manufactures and launches spacecraft and rockets, is working with the Bahamian government to facilitate the landing. A delegation comprising senior representatives from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, and the Port Department has been meeting with SpaceX officials to ensure all safety, regulatory, and operational measures are in place.

“The relevant senior officials will remain on hand during the launch sequence and launch and ascent. They are fully engaged to ensure all safety, regulatory, and operational measures are in place for the scheduled landing. Every effort is being made to facilitate this historic event while maintaining the highest standards,” the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (MOTIA) said in a statement yesterday.

“Further details regarding the landing and related activities will be forthcoming.”

Tourism Minister Chester Cooper confirmed that this will be the first time a Falcon 9 rocket booster lands outside of the United States. The landing will take place on an autonomous droneship off the coast of The Exumas, marking a milestone in The Bahamas’ entry into the space tourism industry.

According to MOTIA, the partnership includes 20 scheduled rocket booster landings in Bahamian waters and is expected to provide economic opportunities, advancements in STEM education, and improved internet connectivity through SpaceX’s Starlink programme.

This “historic landing” follows the signing of a Letter of Agreement (LOA) between MOTIA and SpaceX last February. The agreement establishes The Bahamas as a premier destination for Falcon 9 booster landings, which will be visible exclusively from Bahamian waters.

In addition to promoting tourism, the collaboration supports SpaceX’s Starlink missions, aimed at enhancing disaster response capabilities and connectivity in underserved areas of the Family Islands. SpaceX has also committed to several community initiatives, including STEM education programmes and a space exhibit featuring SpaceX hardware and a spacesuit.

Former NASA rocket scientist and Bahamian Aisha Bowe, who was set to become the first Bahamian astronaut in 2024, played a key role in negotiating the agreement.

Comments

Porcupine says...

Like a hole in the head.
Tourism indeed!

Posted 7 February 2025, 5:16 p.m. Suggest removal

IslandWarrior says...

> Dangerous Chemicals Associated with
> SpaceX Rocket Technology

SpaceX rockets utilize hazardous propellants and combustion byproducts, including RP-1 kerosene, liquid methane, and hypergolic fuels, all of which pose significant threats to human health, air quality, and marine ecosystems. Toxic emissions such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and carcinogenic compounds contribute to respiratory issues, water contamination, and long-term environmental degradation, particularly in fragile coastal regions like The Bahamas. Without strict regulatory oversight and compensation mechanisms, these risks remain unmitigated.

**The Need for Clear Legal Protection**

Landing SpaceX rockets in the Bahamas is not just an environmental issue—it is a public safety, health, and legal matter that must be addressed before any operations take place. Without clear agreements on liability, compensation, and health protections, the risks outweigh any potential benefits.

**To protect Bahamians from avoidable disasters and long-term health hazards, the government must:**


- Negotiate clear liability agreements
with SpaceX, ensuring compensation
for injuries, death, and property
damage.

- Establish an environmental and health impact study before any
permits are granted. Ensure mandatory
insurance coverage for space-related
accidents.

- Require SpaceX to create a disaster response plan that prioritizes
Bahamian safety.

Until such agreements exist, allowing SpaceX to land rockets in Bahamian waters would expose the country to unnecessary risks without sufficient legal and financial protections.

Posted 7 February 2025, 5:22 p.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

All things that our corrupt PLP and FNM governments should have done many decades ago with respect to the horrifically toxic high levels of pollution caused by cruise line industry to our seas and the air we breathe.

Posted 8 February 2025, 9:57 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

"*The relevant senior officials will remain on hand during the launch sequence and launch and ascent. They are fully engaged to ensure all safety, regulatory, and operational measures are in place for the scheduled landing*"

They cant even stop Haitian nationals from burning down the pine forest... please.

Anytime anybody doing something risky chooses the Bahamas as the perfect place, think, "*wool over eyes*". Remember the Titan that also chose thecbahamas as the perfect training site. We gushed about thar too. "*what this mean for deep sea exploration tourism?*".. then it blew up

Posted 7 February 2025, 9:19 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

Leaked that **'5'** BahamasAir planes are booked to take flight on February 17....loaded with **official passengers** traveling from Nassau, Freeport and other locations-heading for Exuma. --- Think whatever you wish. Ain't me who is makin' up such tings'. -- Yes?

Posted 7 February 2025, 10 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Who paying for it? And is Clint Watson on board again?

Posted 8 February 2025, 3:01 a.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

Unfortunately for the likes of corrupt PM Davis, sleazy Fwreddy Boy Mitchell, Vomit Christie, Wicked Witch Maynard-Gibson, Bag Man Bethel, and so on, no amount of Bahamian government cozying up to Elon Musk will in any way deter or stop what President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio and Florida Governor DeSantis already have in store for our nation.

Most U.S, citizens is no longer perceive The Bahamas to be an ally of the U.S. and supporter of its strategic and national security interests. We, the Bahamian people, are therefore going to pay a very dear price for having consistently elected, to government, corrupt politicians who have had a most lax attitude over many decades to illegal aliens, human trafficking, drug smuggling, etc., not to mention our nation’s support of the strategic interests of the ChiComs in their ongoing war against the U.S. for the spread of their communist agenda aimed at achieving global economic and military supremacy for the very evil Chinese Communist Party.

Posted 8 February 2025, 10:17 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Brave dem milking any opportunity to line their pockets.

Talking fool about space rocket tourism.

Sigh 😔😔😔

Posted 8 February 2025, 11:04 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**Americans will only take so much INSULTING!** --The antiwar movement of fifty-six years ago will return. --- to thwart the Trump presidency and administration. -- They'll be shunned, shamed from the White House and State Capital. -- Yes?

Posted 8 February 2025, 6:30 p.m. Suggest removal

ExposedU2C says...

What you say certainly has not helped Cuba any in recent decades. And we could well end up like Cuba, or worse still Haiti, if we continue insulting our neighbours to the North.

Most Americans are insulted by the ChiComs we have placed on their Southwestern door step and the illegal aliens, drugs, etc., we have allowed to flow through our country into their country. Over the past five decades we have elected corrupt politicians who have squandered billions of dollars that should have been used to properly educate and protect our own people, and in doing so partnered with our most important ally to the North to promote and safeguard our common strategic and national security interests. We let our neighbours down by electing corrupt politicians for "shingles" as we like to say, and that rightfully comes with certain consequences as we are soon going to learn the hard way.

Posted 9 February 2025, 1:11 p.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**We need to let it be known that unlike** a number of our tourism countries, the Bahamas has no **'real'** unsafe areas. -- The very fact that our own government and tourism partners --- advertise such -- only serves to negatively impact economic growth. -- Tis no wonder why those cheated -- seek-out **alternative money sources.--- **Wouldn't you. --- Yes?

Posted 9 February 2025, 2:47 p.m. Suggest removal

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