By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT officials sought to allay environmental concerns yesterday as The Bahamas prepares to host its first of 20 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster landings this year, insisting that safeguards are in place to protect marine ecosystems and that the partnership does not conflict with the country’s climate change advocacy.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said environmental protection remains a top priority and that foreign investors must meet strict environmental standards before conducting operations in The Bahamas.

His comments came in response to concerns that repeated rocket landings could harm marine life and that partnering with SpaceX contradicts the government’s push for international climate change funding.

He maintained that The Bahamas is taking “measurable precautions” to safeguard its waters and marine ecosystems by working with environmental experts to monitor potential impacts. He also touted The Bahamas’ proximity to Florida, stable weather, and open waters as ideal conditions for SpaceX operations.

The government has approved up to 20 landings this year, though each one is subject to regulatory approvals. Mr Cooper said every launch requires a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAAB), and officials will be notified before each landing.

He also noted that Bahamian regulations allow for charges of up to $100,000 per landing, though he did not confirm whether SpaceX is paying this amount.

Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, director of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, revealed that her department was officially notified of the proposed re-entry last year and has been engaged in six to eight months of environmental assessments to mitigate potential harm.

SpaceX was required to hire a Bahamian environmental consultant to conduct impact studies. The consulting team, alongside government officials, has been monitoring marine, terrestrial, and avian ecosystems in the area, with findings being continuously updated.

She confirmed that officials have received several environmental reports detailing timelines, methodologies, and assessments, which are continuously updated as circumstances change.

Starting this week, teams will deploy to Cat Island, Exuma, and Eleuthera to install monitoring equipment ahead of the February 18 landing.

Environmental monitoring will continue both during and after the event, with samples collected to assess any potential impact.

The Falcon 9 booster is expected to return to Bahamian waters carrying between 250 and 350 gallons of jet fuel, along with nitrogen and oxygen.

Officials say contingency plans are in place in case of a mishap.

“If there is a mishap — God forbid something happens — we will be working with 250 to 350 gallons of fuel, depending on the weather conditions that day,” Dr Neely-Murphy said. “We will have appropriate vessels in the area, ready to respond.”

She added that the drone ship will land on a tugboat in waters more than 3,000 feet deep and will be guided by GPS. She emphasised that the process is fully automated, meaning no crew members will be on board to manually direct the landing.

Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX’s vice president of launch, assured that safety and reliability remain the company’s top priorities.

“While we’re excited to execute this mission, we won’t fly until we’re ready,” he said. “I’m hopeful that it’s on the 18th, but if we have any concerns about a successful landing, we will stand down and reset for the next available opportunity.”

SpaceX has successfully completed nearly 408 booster landings, alternating between land and drone ships at sea. The company now launches rockets approximately every two days.

The rocket’s fairings, which protect the payload during launch, will descend into the ocean under parachutes and be recovered by a support vessel.

Dr Neely-Murphy explained that within a ten-nautical-mile radius of the landing site, the impact will produce a noise similar to two gunshots.

Ships stationed 17 nautical miles away will hear what she described as “two claps of thunder”, with the sound diminishing further over distance.

Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King confirmed that a five to 10-nautical-mile safety perimeter will be enforced around the landing site, with the RBDF managing traffic and security control.

Meanwhile, Mr Cooper announced that SpaceX has committed to a long-term partnership with The Bahamas, which includes establishing a space-themed exhibit in the country and donating $1m to the University of The Bahamas.