In Texas, scientists and residents are trying to determine the impact of the Starship missile blast on local communities, their health and endangered species. According to the American broadcaster CNBC, their main concern is the large amount of particles that are spread much further than expected during the launch. The giant 120-meter-high rocket, developed by SpaceX for trips to the Moon and Mars, exploded four minutes after launch from the Boca Chica base last Thursday. Permits from billionaire Elon Musk’s company showed that in the event of an explosion, debris would be thrown within about a mile of the Texas launch pad, CNBC reports. In reality, however, these were catapulted to Port Isabel and South Padre Island, about ten kilometers from the launch base.
The Starship mega-rocket exploded in flight: “It’s not a total failure, but it’s a major setback. I worry about the future and the lunar program.”
According to the New York Times, at least one window was shattered in Port Isabel by the Starship missile explosion. A community spokesman told the newspaper that almost the entire site was covered in a “rather thick layer of sand and dust.”
Ecologists are concerned about the impact of particulate matter on the health of local residents. If some say there is no danger, an in-depth analysis of the substances that have spread across the seaside town should shed some light on the matter. The large debris that fell may also have disturbed the habitat of endangered marine animals near the launch site, such as turtles.
Elon Musk said he “learned a lot” despite the blast. The SpaceX boss has long been working on a project to organize commercial trips to the Moon and Mars, which is why he developed the Starship rocket, the largest in the world.