Elon Musk’s SpaceX is facing criticism from environmental activists due to the impact of its Starbase operations in Boca Chica, Texas, on local bird habitats. The New York Times reported that the rocket launches from the site have disrupted the ecosystem, particularly affecting a migratory bird habitat. Since 2019, SpaceX’s activities at Starbase, which includes a rocket launchpad and a production facility, have led to explosions, fires, leaks, and other issues at least 19 times. One notable incident in 2023 resulted in an explosion that ignited 3.5 acres of a nearby state park.
The most recent launch of SpaceX’s Starship in June, which was deemed a success, left behind trails of smeared egg yolk on the ground near the launch site. The complex is located near public lands like Boca Chica State Park and is close to the migratory pathway of birds such as the Piping Plovers, a species listed as “threatened” by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A nonprofit group recorded nine bird nests in the area before the June launch, but none remained intact afterward.
According to a 2024 Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program report, “All 9 shorebird nests monitored following the rocket launch on June 6 were either missing eggs, had damaged eggs, or both.” The report added that the damage was not consistent with predator interactions and noted the strong speed and force of projected debris and wet sand/mud, which was evident in game camera photographs and on the camera bodies themselves, one of which had its lens shattered by a concrete pebble.
The launch scattered debris across nearby landscapes and ignited a small fire. Metal sheets and insulation were also found among the debris. SpaceX’s environmental practices have caused friction with government agencies like the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defended SpaceX in a statement to The Times, saying, “Blowing debris into state parks or national land is not what we prescribed, but the bottom line is no one got hurt, no one got injured. We certainly don’t want people to feel like they’re bulldozed. But it’s a really important operation that SpaceX is conducting down there. It is really important to our civilian space program.”
Gary Henry, a former SpaceX advisor on Pentagon launch programs, told the outlet that SpaceX is aware of the criticisms surrounding its environmental practices and plans to address them. The Times reported that SpaceX hired a consultant to track bird patterns, and its researchers “found little to no evidence” of changes to the local bird population. However, environmental officials have more grievances with SpaceX.
The Times reported that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk “exploited the limitations and competing missions of the various agencies” that could impose unfavorable regulations. The National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife offices, which oversee natural and other resources, have “repeatedly” lost to larger agencies like the FAA. The outlet also reported that Musk has expanded SpaceX’s operations more than he initially promised officials. A former National Park Service official, Mark Spier, said SpaceX “misled” officials. “They kept saying, ‘No, we are not going to do that, we are not going to do that,’ and then they came back and said, ‘Yes, we are,'” he said. “We were being misled.”
The focus around SpaceX and its effect on local environments has continued to gain traction. NASA confirmed in June that a large chunk of debris the size of a car hood from SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule crashed in North Carolina. Representatives from SpaceX, the FAA, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reportedly partnered with US aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman on a secret spy satellite project that is already capturing detailed images of the Earth. According to Reuters, which was first to report on the classified project, it is meant to enhance the US government’s ability to track military and intelligence targets from low-Earth orbits. The network’s imaging capabilities are reportedly intended to have superior resolution over most existing US government spying systems. Once fully deployed, it will be equipped with an array of different sensors, including optical and radar technology, according to sources that spoke to Reuters.
The system will also feature relay satellites that can transmit the imagery and other data across the network. Another hope for the Earth-orbiting project is that it will reduce the risks associated with reconnaissance imagery gathered by US aircraft and drones in other countries’ sovereign airspaces, especially in conflict zones. The involvement of Northrop Grumman – one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology providers – is reportedly to ensure that control over the highly-sensitive project is not given to one single contractor.
The National Reconnaissance Office awarded a $1.8 billion contract to Musk’s SpaceX for the classified project, a planned network of hundreds of satellites, in 2021, according to Reuters. “It is in the government’s interest to not be totally invested in one company run by one person,” one of four people who spoke to Reuters said. It’s unclear whether other contractors are currently involved, or whether more will be brought in at a later date.
In March, the outlet reported that the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) awarded a $1.8 billion contract to SpaceX for the classified project, a planned network of hundreds of satellites, in 2021. Those familiar with the project said that SpaceX has launched roughly a dozen prototypes so far and is already providing test imagery to the NRO. The collection of imagery has not been previously reported.
Northrop Grumman is reportedly providing sensors for some of the SpaceX satellites and will test those satellites at its own facilities before they are launched, Reuters reported. At least 50 of the SpaceX satellites are expected at Northrop Grumman facilities for procedures including testing and the installation of sensors in coming years, one source told the outlet.
In a statement, an NRO spokesperson said the agency “has always worked with a diverse group of partners to deliver the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.” The spokesperson did not comment further on specifics of the satellite network or identify any other companies that may be involved. The Independent has approached SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for comment.
Source: The New York Times, Reuters, Business Insider
