Nudists are protesting SpaceX’s Florida expansion, warning that repeated closures of Playalinda Beach could displace their community.
SpaceX’s plans to expand operations at Kennedy Space Center have drawn pushback from an unexpected group: nudists.
Members of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) warned that frequent closures of Playalinda Beach, a popular clothing-optional area on Canaveral National Seashore, could devastate their community. Opponents say Starship launches could shut down the beach up to 60 times a year.
“There are probably a quarter million people that travel and think like I do,” said Deborah-Sue Stevens, a former AANR regional director. Erich Schuttauf, AANR’s executive director, added that closures may force nudists to overcrowd nearby Apollo Beach, sparking conflicts with non-nude visitors.
Not all agreed. One SpaceX supporter dismissed concerns, saying, “The turtles and the nudists will have to migrate.”
Though the FAA has yet to finish its environmental review, SpaceX has already begun building a Starship tower, signaling likely approval.