When manchildren blow up their toys

The reaction to the SpaceX crash from Elon world was along the lines of “we meant to do that.” This wasn’t true, but it wouldn’t be much of a justification if it was given the impact:

SpaceX launched the largest rocket ever built for the first time on Thursday from its Boca Chica, Texas, spaceport. The Starship spacecraft, designed to fly people on a Mars mission someday, lifted off the launch pad then blew up in mid-flight, with no crew on board.

Now, residents and researchers are scrambling to assess the impact of the explosion on local communities, their health, habitat and wildlife including endangered species. Of primary concern is the large amount of sand- and ash-like particulate matter and heavier debris kicked up by the launch. The particulate emissions spread far beyond the expected debris field.

As a result of the explosion, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the company’s Starship Super Heavy launch program pending results of a “mishap investigation,” part of standard practice, according to an email from the agency sent to CNBC after the launch. No injuries or public property damage had yet been reported to the agency as of Friday.

[…]

Margolis said the Center for Biological Diversity is worried about the effects of the noise, particulate and heavier debris on endangered species that make their home in the area, including the piping plover, red knot, jaguarundi, ocelot populations and sea turtles including the Kemp’s Ridley, which nests on the beaches of Boca Chica and is one of the most critically endangered sea turtles in the world.

This seems like a situation where the FAA needs to bring people to the grown-up table.

…Good:

BREAKING: The FAA had grounded the SpaceX Starship program pending a mishap investigation.

This will most likely take many months to complete and require an extensive remediation plan before being allowed to launch again.— Christopher David (@Tazerface16) April 24, 2023