Home / Technology / Starship Launches Near Neighbors: Safety Zones Spark Row
Starship Launches Near Neighbors: Safety Zones Spark Row
25 Nov
Summary
- SpaceX Starship launches may restrict neighbor access to pads.
- Rivals Blue Origin and ULA protested SpaceX's launch proposal.
- Safety zones are larger due to Starship's size and fuel type.
SpaceX's Starship rocket launches are anticipated to commence from Cape Canaveral as early as next year, a development causing friction with rival companies. Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance have previously voiced concerns that SpaceX's ambitious launch cadence could force them to vacate their own facilities regularly due to safety requirements.
The primary issue stems from Starship's considerable size and its use of a LOX/methane fuel mixture, which necessitates significantly larger safety exclusion zones compared to existing rockets. This expansion of 'blast danger areas' means that neighboring launch pads will likely be impacted, leading to operational limitations for other companies.
While SpaceX is working to provide data to refine these safety zones, current government protocols treat LOX/methane vehicles with a high TNT blast equivalency until further analysis is complete. The Space Force is collaborating with industry partners to gather more data, aiming to reduce these zones while ensuring public safety.
