Originally published at: Guest Blog: Starbase Isn't Isolated It's Reckless - AVweb
Debris removal is underway at SpaceX’s Masseys test stand, about four miles from the Starbase launch site.
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Unfortunate circumstances that emerging tech sectors have to answer for and deal with. Perhaps other sites may well deal with some of these potential situations and their potential upsides with more welcoming arms. Consider Northern Vancouver Island with it’s low population base, mild climate, road access and strategic location on Canada’s west coast. Port Hardy has a DND WW2 airfield, great harbour and ready access to the open waters of the central Pacific. Don’t forget that your dollar goes further up here as well!
I guess they’ll let anyone write in here! 
Very informative, Raf. Agree it’s risk offloading. He wanted out of CA badly and took up in Texas knowing regulations and taxes (among other personal freedom disagreements) would be malleable by political influence and power to his favor.
Disgusting display of corporate irresponsibility on the incident you’ve described.
I don’t think the Invaders, or Martians as they’re often called have anything to worry about.
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Companies should be empowered to innovate - but with the rights conferred come responsibilities. SpaceX should be allowed licenses alongside responsibilities to absorb ALL costs associated with damage to property, ecosystems, and any losses incurred by residents (both commercial and personal). That way, jeopardy is not offloaded, but will be the only thing that really means these “innovative” companies embed the real risks in their decision making.
It is unbelievable that local governments are so happy for their residents, let alone others living in adjacent countries are put at risk like this with no consequences.
Also, the impact of SpaceX’s reckless behaviour is not restricted to countries adjacent to the US border…
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What’s the going price for a Texas Governor and Lt Governor to look the other way?
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Oh, clutch my pearls! Delicate ecosystems!
Do you mean the ones on the beaches where the locals are allowed to drive their 4WDS on? What does that do to turtle habitats?
SpaceX organized Boca Chica back in 2012 and didn’t do anything for some years.
As for other locations, you need something with ocean to the east so Northern Vancouver Island is a non starter. California (VandenBerg) is only good for polar orbits and they are still launching there.
Was anybody hurt? No. BTW SpaceX actually try to get upper stages to reenter where they won’t cause harm, unlike the Chinese. Sometimes it goes wrong.
What a mean spirited article. Is the author a member of one of the very small groups of “environmental” loons who are against anything, anywhere, at any time?
I’m encouraged by the groups of Mexicans and others in the US who gather on sand spits to watch history being made. They will be able to tell their grandchildren that they were there when Starships began to fly!
Mike Borgelt
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OMG … we better replace that bad Texas Governator in a wheelchair in Texas with one who will legislate against any rocket debris from failed tests from falling into Mexico. The President of Poland better do that, too. THAT’ll fix it. And while we’re at it, we better jail Elon. If he only woulda placed the nesting turtles into the turtle relocation program and sent 'em to … um … Cape Canaveral where rockets never fail and debris only falls in the ocean injuring wayward sharks. OH … Tom … rocket launch facilities are as far south for a reason … Vancouver island won’t do. Besides, the environmental nuts up there will be yelling if a bear is injured or one of those sasquatches that inhabit the area is killed.
When we were testing the early cruise missiles at Edwards AFB, a few of 'em turned left at the pass and attacked Lompoc, CA. So the USAF paid the locals to go to the theatre in Santa Maria. THAT’s what Elon oughta do, too … pay everyone to go to a show in San Antonio.
Problem fixed! EASY.
You’re better than this, Raf, much better.
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Wow!!! I didn’t realize this too, was a bleeding, left wing, opinion site. I thought AvWeb was a aviation news site. Guess I was wrong!
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News Flash: The government and its agencies are for sale. If you see something that you don’t like, just pay your money, carve it out, and wipe your backside with it. That freedom is available to all of us, subject to ability to pay, of course.
Innovation can be expensive and dangerous. I didn’t hear the same complaints when NASA killed many astronauts and damaged destroyed stuff. Either we’re turning into a candy ass country or there’s such a hate for Elon that people are more interested in hurting his efforts than seeing real achievements.
NASA hasn’t had any breakthrough innovation in many many years.
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Nice to see that MSNBC now has a full time contributor at AVweb….
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Crazy that some fragile folk on here go bananas when the subject of SpaceX cleaning up after themselves (or offering a modicum of accountability to neighbors or nature) is brought up. Did you guys let your teenagers leave crap all over your homes when they were growing up? If they destroyed your neighbor’s car playing with explosives would your neighbor be wrong to hold you accountable? Of course not. You’re being silly. SpaceX in Boca Chica is a runaway frat party. Get over yourselves.
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RAF–I usually agree with your posts, but like The Fonz on “Happy Days”, you’ve “jumped the Shark” on this one–gone too far. Yes, “Things Happen”–but this IS “testing”–coming up with new technology. Without exploring what COULD go wrong (in a controlled environment) there is no way to PREVENT potential accidents. I’m old enough to recall the Explorer satellites of the beginning of the Space Age–rural U.S. residents in sparsely populated States “worried” about “what would happen if one of those things fell on my house?” It’s the “Chicken Little” fable–“but something COULD happen!” The REALITY–something DID happen during testing–but the testing happened in a chosen remote area, and nobody was injured–just the way it was planned.
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Attacking the messenger…
Your long rant contains cowardly excuses for Melon 
Why cowardly ?
Because it takes courage to defend the truth.
Easy to go alone with bullies.
As for the author, you might learn something from him if you have an open mind !!!
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Come on guys… anyone who dares speak up about Great Elon and his bootlickers will be stoned to death. Same goes for saying mean things about King Trump.
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Apparently Rafael took some time out from his part time job at CNN.
“No acknowledgment of environmental damage.” What damage? Tell us how a few pieces of rocket debris will harm sea turtle nesting sites and coastal fisheries.
“The explosion’s shockwave and debris extended into Mexican territory.” ….but not as far as the Mexican cartels extended into the US.
“When a private company can toss wreckage into another country….” That other country is the one that stood by allowing millions of people to cross illegally into the US.
Newsflash. A check on google reveals that there are ~12,000 active satellites in orbit (near 15K total), Of that, ~7,500 – over half – have been put up by SpaceX into LEO. This is the same company that backs down their stage I rockets to a pinpoint location and reuses them vs. throwing them in the ocean like NASA does. Falcon 9 booster B1058 has been reused 18 times! Why aren’t you writing about THAT? This is the same company that now backs 'em down and grabs them, too. This is the same company that is providing internet access to millions of people who otherwise would likely not have it. And this is the same company who rescued two astronauts stuck in space because NASA / Boeing couldn’t do it and we didn’t want to pay Russia to do it. And you’re bashing him for a test failure. You’re worried about a few damned turtles in Mexico. Give me / us here a break, Raf! I want the names of humans killed, injured or otherwise harmed by this incident. And, if private property was harmed, I’m sure SpaceX will handle that. If they don’t … write about THAT. It’s UNWORTHY of your time to be writing crap like this and wasting our time and riling me up! I agree with JimHanson … you’ve gone too far this time.
You are well aware that I spent nearly 3 decades on and around Edwards AFB involved in flight test. There are numerous streets and roads on that Base named after test people were killed when tests failed … starting with Capt. Glen Edwards in the YB-49 in 1948. THAT testing lead to the B-2 which just shined over the weekend. In the Antelope Valley of CA, Challenger Way is a major thoroughfare since the 80’s. TESTING involves risk … period. All you tree huggers want us to be clomping around behind and on horses that poop tons of the stuff all over the place, I guess? Elon Musk was your electric car save the planet ‘darling’ until he invented DOGE. Geesh !! NOW I’m mad!
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You sounded mad from the start, no need for verification… 
"
For less than half a penny of every tax dollar
NASA RETURNS EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
NASA’s unique mission provides benefits in big and small ways. Dollars spent for space exploration create jobs, jumpstart businesses, and grow the economy. Our innovations improve daily life, advance medical research, support disaster response, and more. We’re constantly evolving and finding new ways to add value.
NASA’s economic impact is nationwide, extending to all 50 states and the District of Columbia."
Did you know that ?
Yes … I’m well aware that NASA / Dryden cum Armstrong budgeted $40M for the X-57 Maxwell electric airplane, spent $87M with estimates that $64M MORE was needed to finish the project. It was mercifully (to taxpayers) ended at that point. The taxpayers didn’t even get the airplane, either. At Airventure 2023, I ATE the Program Manager in a forum embarrassing him in front of a forum full of people.
Worse, the X-59 “Quesst” Low Boom Demonstrator airplane – also being managed by NASA / Armstrong at Edwards AFB is YEARS behind schedule and enormously above budget and STILL hasn’t flown. It was supposed to have flown in 2022. It was supposed to cost $247M. We’re now 3 years behind schedule, nearly three times over budget with no end in sight OR first flight yet planned! AND the end project … to rewrite an FAA Reg on supersonic boom which President Trump just took care of with a stroke of his pen. QUESST no longer needed!
So NASA / Dryden cum Armstrong has spent 3/4 of a BILLION BUCKS – for TWO airplanes – and the taxpayers haven’t gotten either airplane. But – hey – lotsa NASA types in the desert are employed!
See:
THIS is why we needed Elon / DOGE and Raf ought to be writing about that!
“Exceptional Value” my … well … you know …
On Edwards AFB, NASA is a runaway train wreck that needs to be stopped ! They can’t rescue astronauts and they can’t get test airplanes into the air. Great job, NASA.
Good thing I don’t have a flight physical scheduled for this week ! 