By FAY SIMMONS
TRIBUNE Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE OPPOSITION yesterday demanded that the Government disclose the status of its SpaceX partnership after it was revealed another rocket booster landing was due to occur in The Bahamas’ exclusive economic zone.
Senator Arinthia Komolafe, the FNM’s spokesperson for energy, utilities and aviation, questioned why Bahamians were suddenly being advised by the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAAB) of the planned Falcon 9 landing just months after officials said the programme had ended following two touchdowns in this nation’s waters.
“The Government must disclose theb actual status of SpaceX partnership,” she said. Mrs Komolafe asserted that Bahamians were “shocked” to learn of the planned landing through a CAAB advisory issued on Sunday - just one day before the operation was originally scheduled to take place.
The Authority advised that the booster landing was expected between 6.30am and 7am on Monday, October 19, warning residents and visitors on the eastern side of Abaco and North Eleuthera that the operation could be visible on the horizon and that sonic booms might be heard.
However, SpaceX subsequently scrubbed Monday’s launch attempt because of poor weather in the booster recovery zone and rescheduled the launch for today.
The Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida during a window opening at 6.30am, carrying 32 payloads on the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission.
Mrs Komolafe questioned when CAAB became aware of the planned landing, whether the director of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) had been informed, and whether the two agencies had completed their due diligence.
“Why are Bahamians just being informed on the eve of the scheduled landing?” she asked.
Her questions follow confirmation reported last month that SpaceX had formally ended its Falcon 9 booster landing programme in The Bahamas. Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, the DEPP director, confirmed the company had formally said it would conduct no further landings in Bahamian waters.
The programme was initially promoted as an opportunity to position The Bahamas for space tourism and technology, with up to 20 Falcon 9 booster landings planned in Bahamian waters. The first landing took place in Exuma Sound in February 2025, followed by a second in February 2026.
Environmental advocates subsequently welcomed the reported end of the programme, raising concerns about potential environmental risks and the transparency of the approval process.
Mrs Komolafe said Bahamians had previously been advised that DEPP required SpaceX to formally request each landing and conduct environmental studies before and after each operation.
“Has this been done?” she asked. Mrs Komolafe also questioned the current status of the partnership, given the earlier confirmation that SpaceX would no longer conduct booster landings in The Bahamas. “What is the real status of the SpaceX partnership?” she asked.