SpaceX’s Earth views need a license now, probably thanks to the Tesla stunt

theverge.com

24 points·dbasedweeb··9 comments

>but NOAA couldn’t approve the use of the cameras in time. (Reviews can take up to 120 days, NOAA says.)

When you can refuel and relaunch the rocket faster than the government can decide if you're allowed to take a selfie, you might be living in the future.

The implication here is that the US NOAA has jurisdiction over the entire Earth, or is sovereign over any extra-terrestrial camera that might be floating over it?

Ludicrous and arrogant. My country's bureaucrats are just the worst sometimes.

Isn't space like international waters from a legal POV?

When you have the biggest guns, and show willingness to roll them out, anything is whatever you say it is.

See: the UN.

The UN only has peace keeping operations. They don't shoot unless shot at to defend themselves. A friend worked at the UN, he told me rebels were stealing their food supplies and they could not do much about it.

I was referring to the US dictating UN policy.

And not following it themselves, when convenient not to.

This is ridiculous.

Does the NOAA approve Russia or China’s cameras in space? No.

They should leave everyone alone.

I don't think NOAA just noticed this. I think a SpaceX competitor pushed them to act, perhaps indirectly via a member of congress. The obvious suspect is United Launch Alliance.

> perhaps indirectly via a member of congress

That's the part of the phrase everyone forgets: "Military-Industrial-Congressional complex".

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