SpaceX’s Starship launches at the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, have allegedly been contaminating local bodies of water with mercury for years. The news arrives in an exclusive CNBCreport on August 12, which cites internal documents and communications between local Texas regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency.

SpaceX’s fourth Starship test launch in June was its most successful so far—but the world’s largest and most powerful rocket ever built continues to wreak havoc on nearby Texas communities, wildlife, and ecosystems. But after repeated admonishments, reviews, and ignored requests, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have had enough.

    • cannibalkitteh@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      3 months ago

      Dumping into the water. It is an overall expense, and not related to the business interests. They just needed some evil villain stuff going on because Elon really wants to meet Captain Planet.

    • acetanilide@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Elon’s daily dose. It takes a lot to get on his level.

      Just kidding, but it seems like something to do with the fuel/exhaust.

      I’ve read multiple articles and the most I’ve gotten is that their first launch didn’t have the cleaner fuel that future launches did. I am not sure how that would cause repeated incidents… perhaps it’s from metal parts in the rockets? 🤔 I could have missed something as I was reading but hopefully someone else will know the answer.

      • Atrichum@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Cleaner fuel? It’s oxygen and methane. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, no mercury. Still I can’t think of a source.

        • acetanilide@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          The article I read said they didn’t use that until after the first launch. I did not look into it further.

        • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works
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          3 months ago

          I couldn’t think of a source either. Upon closer inspection, it seems possible that this entire story is based on two typos in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality report.

          • Peppycito@sh.itjust.works
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            3 months ago

            The pumps need to be running full bore before ignition and keep running after cut off. Watch a video of shut off and tell me where they’re keeping all that CO^2 and water on the rocket.

      • casmael@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Naturally. If people forget to turn off the poison sockets before bed, that’s their own problem!

    • casmael@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      Slippery consistency helps the highest bidder to slide up Elon’s bumhole more easily and efficiently. What you really want in this situation is a low energy threshold for financial turnover - in this case the point at which dollar bills are more than 50% up musks arse. Mercury gets that done, and Elon likes the taste, but unfortunately on this occasion it got into the water supply which is sad to see.