SpaceX’s Starship, launched from the company’s StarBase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, has been allegedly contaminating local waters with mercury for years, according to an exclusive report. CNBC Report The report, released Aug. 12, cited internal documents and correspondence between local regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency in Texas.
SpaceX’s fourth Starship test launch in June was its most successful yet, but the biggest and most powerful rocket ever made continues to wreak havoc on communities, wildlife and ecosystems around Texas. But after repeated warnings, investigations and requests were ignored, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have reached their breaking point.
The issue stems from a complaint filed with TCEQ exactly one year ago, on Aug. 6, 2023. The letter reportedly cited 14 separate incidents of “environmental impacts from the facility’s floodwater system” resulting from “discharging floodwater without TCEQ authorization.”
The water injection system works in conjunction with flame deflectors to reduce the intense heat, energy, and sound associated with orbital rocket launches. Starship is equipped with 33 methane- and liquid oxygen-fueled Raptor engines that produce a total of 16.7 million pounds of thrust, but no such system was installed at Boca Chica Starbase prior to the first launch; however, it is now in place. Initial tests reportedly damaged nesting and migration sites for local endangered species and started a 3.5-acre fire in Boca Chica State Park.
[Related: SpaceX’s Starship launch caused a ‘mini earthquake’ and left a giant mess.]
SpaceX reportedly circumvented regulatory permit procedures to limit pollutant emissions and failed to provide a wastewater treatment plan ahead of the second launch. The EPA issued SpaceX a formal Notice of Violation on March 13, 2024, but the company went ahead with another launch the next day using an unauthorized water discharge system.
Residents near Boca Chica have frequently raised concerns about potentially dangerous conditions created by the 15-story Starship’s engines, while residents living near SpaceX have described the deafening noise and physical impacts of launches as “truly terrifying.” Dust fumes from the spacecraft’s thrusters are said to be causing health problems, Bowling ball sized pieces The projectile, which fell from a 25-foot-deep crater at the launch site, caused extensive damage to the vehicle and shattered windows. In April 2024, 27 local and environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the company. published an open letter They expressed outrage over the tests, highlighting the starbase’s proximity to sacred Native American sites.
Monday’s news: FAA Announcement The company announced it was indefinitely postponing four public environmental impact assessment meetings. The four scheduled meetings were focused on upcoming test launches of Starship at SpaceX’s spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX had hoped to win approval to increase the number of Starship test launches at the port to 25 per year.
The fully reusable Starship system is key to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s goal of ferrying humans to Mars. But before that, it’s currently scheduled to ferry astronauts for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission to the Moon in September 2026. It’s unclear how or if the fees will affect the schedule, for both private space companies and NASA. But even if the schedule remains the same, at least one recent study has raised concerns about the impact Starship’s giant landing thrusters could have on the surrounding lunar surface conditions. SpaceX announced The company announced on August 8 that Starship was “flight ready” for its fifth test launch, “pending regulatory approval,” but the chances of receiving approval now seem lower than they were last Thursday.
“We will get back to you,” an FAA spokesman said. Popular Science Early this morning CNBCAt the time of writing, they had not responded to a request for follow-up. Popular Science We have also reached out to NASA and local representatives in Texas for comment.
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