SpaceX is accused of dumping mercury into Texas waters for years

SpaceX’s Starship launching at the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, is believed to have contaminated local bodies of water with mercury for years. The news comes in an exclusive form CNBC report on Aug. 12, citing 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 yet, but the world’s largest and most powerful rocket ever built continues to wreak havoc on nearby communities, wildlife and ecosystems in Texas. But after repeated admonitions, reviews and ignored requests, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have had enough.

The issues stem from a complaint filed with the TCEQ just over a year ago on August 6, 2023. The letter reportedly cites 14 separate incidents involving “environmental impacts from the Facility’s flood control system” due to “the discharge of floodwaters without TCEQ approval. ”

Water flood systems work in conjunction with flame deflectors to mitigate the intense heat, energy and noise associated with orbital rocket launches. Despite Starship’s 33 methane and liquid oxygen-fueled Raptor engines generating a combined 16.7 million pounds of thrust, no such system was installed at the Boca Chica starbase before the first launch, although they are in place now . The initial test reportedly damaged the nesting and migration sites of local endangered species and caused a 3.5-acre fire in Boca Chica State Park.

[Related: SpaceX’s Starship launch caused a ‘mini earthquake’ and left a giant mess.]

Prior to the second launch, SpaceX reportedly subsequently circumvented regulatory permitting procedures regarding pollutant discharge limits, as well as failing to submit plans to treat its wastewater. The EPA formally notified SpaceX of violation on March 13, 2024, but proceeded with another launch using the unauthorized flood system the next day.

Local residents near Boca Chica have frequently expressed concerns about potentially dangerous conditions caused by the 15-story spaceship’s engines. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s neighbors have described the deafening noise and physical effects of a launch as “truly terrifying.” Dust plumes created by the spacecraft’s thrusters have reportedly caused health problems debris the size of a bowling ball from the 25-meter-deep crater of a launch site severely damaged vehicles and shattered windows. As of April 2024, there were 27 community and environmental organizations published an open letter expressing anger over the tests and highlighting Starbase’s proximity to indigenous sacred lands.

Monday’s news came the same day as the FAA announcement that it postponed indefinitely a series of four public environmental assessment meetings. The four planned events focused on future Starship test launches at SpaceX’s spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX hoped to gain approval to increase the total number of Starship tests there to 25 annual launches.

A fully reusable spaceship system is key to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s goal of eventually transporting humans to Mars. Before that, however, NASA’s Artemis 3 mission is currently scheduled to take astronauts to the moon sometime in September 2026. It’s unclear how or if the allegations will affect that timeline for either the private space company or NASA. But even if the timeline remains the same, at least one recent study has raised concerns about the effects of Starship’s massive landing engines on the conditions of the surrounding lunar surface. SpaceX announced on August 8 that Starship was “ready to fly” on its fifth test launch “pending regulatory approval.” However, the chance of a green light now seems smaller than last Thursday.

“We will be in touch,” an FAA spokesperson said Popular science earlier today ahead CNBC‘s story. At the time of writing, they have not yet responded to requests for a follow-up. Popular science has also contacted both NASA and local representatives in Texas for comment.

This story develops…