OT:
Update 👿 from CNBC report 5 days ago:
Local Texas regulators and the EPA have halted Starship launches at Boca Chica accusing them of dumping waste water with mercury into local streams and other water sources. As a result, the FAA has canceled all requests to increase SpaceX’s launch cadence [ 25 per year ].
The focus was on the water deluge system - almost every one uses this sort of system. 14 complaints filed with local office in Aug 2023, alleging environmental impacts. Was discharging water without TCEQ authorization.
Regulators have said SpaceX can continue with launches, despite violations. This whole thing may or may not cause significant delays.
Musk has hinted that something will happen in 2 weeks, so this issue may not affect Flight 5.
“Polling by Levada Center independent polling agency in July indicates that even as Russian state media has trumpeted Russian gains in eastern Ukraine, 58 percent of Russians now support an end to the war, compared with only 34 percent who want to go on fighting.”