By Juan MontoyaThe details of the seemingly innocuous SpaceX launch pad proposed for construction a scant few miles from Boca Chica Beach has been released by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. on a request by Ms. Stacey Zee, of the Federal Aviation Administration.
And a cursory description of the site by the TPWD
indicates that unlike the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation's Gilbert Salinas' description of the "negligible footprint" the satellite launch pad, the footprint outlined in the letter is quite noticeable.
Rather than add fuel to the fire, let's just say that the propellant for the rockets SpaceX wants to launch is not – as Salinas is wont to say – like the kerosene you use in your campfire. Instead it is highly refined kerosene, or rocket propellant 1, capable of lifting SpaceX's Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy with a gross lift weight of some 3.4 million pounds ( a heavy lift class launch vehicle). The rocket's length is just about 230 feet. In other words, it ain't no firecracker.
But rather than have Craig Groves call us nay-sayers and alarmists, we'll just allow you to see the document and judge for yourselves whether Salinas is right to call the area "a whole bunch of nothing." Apparently,. he has not been talking with the folks over at TPWD lately to know that there are some two scores of endangered species and unique geographical areas that will be directly impacted by the construction of the facility there and its control area some 1.5 miles away.
To read the entire letter click on the map or on the link below. Let the honest debate begin.
[click here for pdf document]
6 comments:
Can the people of Brownsville sue the bedc for deceptive business practices, fraud, or what ever you want to call it? Each citizen, thay cares, should contact their commissioner and Mayor to have these idiots disbanded. Anyone with the least bit of common sense should know that it is a bad idea. why our beautiful beaches aren't protected by the federal government is beyond me. I just drove out there Saturday and I was very proud of how clean and prestine Boca Chica beach is. It almost seems evil, to allow its destruction.And that is exactly what the supporters of this project are doing. Anybody downfor a march on City Hall? From there the mayor's office and then a protest at bedc headquarters. A legally, American march.
(Anybody downfor a march on City Hall?)
I applaud your stance. I too love Boca Chica beach. But since I'm in advanced years, could you possibly plan a march for late October or November?
Donna Alvarez
That letter gives along list of endangered and fragil plants and critters that need to be protected but SpaceX won't do them any harm. However, all humans have to be evacuated for a 1.5 mile radius before the blast off.
If it is dangerous for humans to hang around, why is it OK for the plants and critters to hang around during the blast?
Juan,
You spelled my name wrong... there is no "s" at the end of Grove. Moving on, I didn't call anybody nay-sayers or alarmist. I am actually happy their is opposition as that ultimately creates balance. I just don't agree that we should block the project until all the studies are done. This document just represents one component of the process. Also, I am no rocket scientist(obviously) and that graphic is alarming at first glance I must admit. However, I do not think that represents the actual blast zone. It appears to me to be radial distance indicators and not in any way related to the blast pattern other then to indicate the distance from the point of origin and suggested buffer zones.
- Craig Grove
Juan,
You spelled my name wrong... there is no "s" at the end of Grove. Moving on, I didn't call anybody nay-sayers or alarmist. I am actually happy their is opposition as that ultimately creates balance. I just don't agree that we should block the project until all the studies are done. This document just represents one component of the process. Also, I am no rocket scientist(obviously) and that graphic is alarming at first glance I must admit. However, I do not think that represents the actual blast zone. It appears to me to be radial distance indicators and not in any way related to the blast pattern other then to indicate the distance from the point of origin and suggested buffer zones.
- Craig Grove
Why continue wasting time with a project that is never going to come to fruition. Look at all of the City time that was wasted on 'Imagine' Brownsville. None of the supporters actually have an understanding or respect for our way of life here in Brownsville. We don't want outsiders coming here and turning our beautiful environment into one in which they were in such a hurry to leave.
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