Starship SN15 launch: SpaceX evacuates village ahead of major test
‘There is a risk that a malfunction of the SpaceX vehicle during these activities will create an overpressure event that can break windows,’ alert notice warns
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SpaceX has issued an evacuation order to local residents of Boca Chica Village in Texas ahead of a major test for its Mars-bound Starship rocket.
The Starship SN15 prototype is expected to perform a high-altitude launch this week from SpaceX’s Starbase complex in Boca Chica, after first completing a static fire test of the craft’s Raptor engines.
An Alert notice to residents warned that “space flight activities” would be carried out on 21 April from 12pm to 8pm (6pm to 2am, 22 April, BST).
“There is a risk that a malfunction of the SpaceX vehicle during these activities will create an overpressure event that can break windows,” the letter stated.
“Therefore, in order to protect Public Health and Safety, it is recommended that you consider temporarily vacating yourself, other occupants, and pets, from the area.
“At a minimum, you must exit your home or structure and be outside of any building on your property when you hear the police sirens, which will be activated at the time of the space flight activity, to avoid or minimise the risk of injury.”
SpaceX does not publicise the exact time of its Starship launches, as there a number of variables that need to line up at the same time for it to take place.
These include approval from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), local road closures, technical preparations and favourable weather conditions.
Cameron County has issued a temporary closure of public roads surrounding SpaceX’s Boca Chica base for the same time period stated in the Alert notice.
Starship SN15 will be the fifth prototype of the next-generation spacecraft to attempt a high-altitude flight test, with all four previous efforts achieving a launch to at least 10km.
Only one of the four, SN10, successfully landed without exploding, however several minutes after touching down it exploded.
Despite the setbacks, SpaceX is pushing forward with preparations to perform the first ever orbital Starship launch by July. A commercial trip around the Moon is scheduled for 2023, while a recently announced $2.89 billion contract with Nasa will hopefully see the humans return to the Moon aboard a Starship craft in 2024.
Images captured by space enthusiast Carter Goode show that Starship SN15 rolled out to the launchpad on 8 April, just nine days after the previous Starship SN11 flight test.
A live stream of the launch will broadcast on SpaceX’s official YouTube channel and Twitter account a few minutes before the attempt is made.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments