The roar of the engines and the curfew: as SpaceX has forced residents of Texas to sell their homes

After Each successful test of a new rocket (or failed launch, this also happens) SpaceX we often see reports that it happened on the new built spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. What is this place? It's a small village with a few dozen inhabitants, located in a picturesque place on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, near the Mexican border. In 2014 the Governor of the state of Texas laid the Foundation for a new spaceport, and the locals thought it was likely a small town in the whole world. And so it happened, after all many of us would not know about the existence of this village, if not for the SpaceX project. However, for a few years, the attitude of residents to this building has changed: now they want Elon Musk has left them alone.

It All began like a fairy tale, — says one of the residents of Boca Chica Esquire magazine. — Many journalists and fans of SpaceX, all talked, took pictures, shared experiences, even the Mask looked often at the construction site. The town became the "cosmic center" of the United States.

Before that, the company Elon musk bought one of the houses in the village for 37 thousand dollars, without running water and other vital communications in an emergency condition and with bars on the Windows. Residents at first a bit confused by this fact: why would a billionaire do that house? To help you understand — in Boca Chica one and only street, on which stand the houses of all residents. But this fact somehow lost sight of in the flow. And then they have was not up to him.

Spaceport SpaceX

After the construction of the cosmodrome and before the first presentation of the ship Starship company SpaceX said that space projects are a great danger and "to minimize the damage runs very difficult." Along with this was followed by offers to all the residents of Boca Chica to buy their home, and not at the market price, and in three or even five times more expensive. To this offer no one agreed: people lived in the village for several generations, and indeed before the advent of SpaceX spaceport town was a piece of heaven on Earth.

What it has evolved? The lives of the residents of Boca Chica has turned from a Paradise into a living hell. Yes, they were in the heart of the action and could watch the SpaceX launch at the launch site closer to them. However, for security purposes, the company Ilona Mask start to block the main road leading to the village (and she's even the only one). In addition, at the time of the launches of the residents ordered to leave their homes. And it's not 15 minutes and not even 2 hours and SpaceX outlined the 15-hour window during which anyone could not go out. If one of the residents, for example, went to relatives in another city and decided to go back to that time, he would have to sleep on the street. Nobody needs scandals like "because of the launch of a new rocket Elon musk suffered civil".

the Boca Chica from the satellite. So residents were able to get to my house (upstairs), they need to pass by the site of SpaceX.

Despite all this, demand for real estate in Boca Chica has increased several times, mostly at the expense of the fans and the fans of SpaceX. One of these, say the inhabitants, even broke through to the site of the spaceport and managed to take a selfie with a rocket, after which he was charged. Some residents began to rent out their house on Airbnb, because it can no longer be in this place. And fans of SpaceX is just a joy to watch the launches of your favorite company right from your patio. However, most of the residents don't want to go in Boca Chica there are mostly older people who would like to grow old in your own home.

SpaceX Fans came for the presentation of Starship Mk1 in Boca Chica

Where SpaceX launches rockets?

Why Elon Musk actually chose this place? In fact, the answer to this question still remains unclear. The spaceport was built literally on the side of the public highway close to residential houses. The same Jeff Bezos, head of Amazon, when he became interested in space technology and bought hundreds of acres of land in the Texas wilderness where near no town or village. Richard Branson posted his private space company Virgin Galactic at Spaceport America, the facility is also located far from residential buildings in new Mexico. More information can be found in our channel .

it looks like the base Blue Origin — not a soul around.

Besides Boca Chica is not ideal place for space launches. Here periodically raging strong hurricanes, and all the commercial companies who were interested in the area quickly left. Many buildings after a hurricane actually washed into the sea. And indeed, SpaceX has already felt all the peculiarities of local climate: in the beginning of last year after fell to the ground due to strong wind. The speed of wind gusts in the area of missiles in the storm of up to 80 kilometers per hour. In the end part of the protective mechanisms that hold the rocket from falling, could not resist. The upper part of the Starship with the cone lying on its side and damaged. Later, Musk added that the fuel tanks of the prototype was not injured.

it looked like Starship after a strong storm in Boca Chica

But the place of deployment of its spaceport he has not changed and is still in Boca Chica are actively engaged in the development and testing of the Starship. Apparently, SpaceX received the land forvery favorable conditions (probably not paid for it, given the considerable role of the Governor of the state of Texas in this project).

After the accident, activity at a construction site became more violent, it was evident that the company tried to catch up. Residents tried to protect themselves from the noise of the hurricane shutters, but it did not help. In the end, some surrendered and made a deal with SpaceX, selling your house is much more expensive than the market price. Most likely, the company Elon musk wanted.

We were very important this piece of the earth, — said one of the residents. — Here is a terrific air and views. There is no price that would cost to leave the Villa on the beach with great views. But to live here was simply impossible.

Some residents also noticed that after the test, SpaceX on the shore, there are dozens of dead turtles and in the water floats dead fish.

Later, SpaceX reported 12 launches a year from Boca Chica. Each month one of the missiles the company's Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy, the most powerful of the Arsenal, should fly up into the sky and reach the International space station, and can fly further. Only the villagers don't seem to want to participate.

to see the launches of SpaceX, the residents of Boca Chica can come to your yard