The most recent launch by SpaceX showcased the tallest and mightiest rocket ever, dubbed Starship, comprising the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket. While the launch was executed seamlessly, the aftermath was far from ideal—a catastrophic explosion ensued.
Although no individuals suffered any injuries, significant devastation unfolded at the launch site, affecting not only the pad but also an isolated Dodge Caravan belonging to NASA Spaceflight, innocently documenting the event. NASA Spaceflight members captured the van’s demise from a first-person perspective, and the footage is now available for viewing.
Kevin Reed, a NASA Spaceflight video producer, verified to The Drive that the van indeed belonged to NSF and had been actively used for filming at Starbase since 2020. During the incident, the van had been parked approximately 1,400 feet away from the launch pad to secure up-close footage of the momentous Super Heavy launch.
Regrettably, a massive chunk of concrete dislodged by the 33-engined rocket’s 17 million pounds of thrust collided with the van’s rear, impacting the liftgate and D-pillar. This collision resulted in the destruction of two cameras, one instantly and the other shutting off shortly after, along with substantial damage to the van. Subsequently, a third camera toppled over after another impact, continuing to transmit until its batteries depleted.
Over the weekend, NSF finally received authorization to retrieve its devastated van and cameras. Upon their arrival, the team assessed the damage to the Dodge, as well as the camera equipment dislodged by the explosion.
NSF’s content manager, Jack Beyer, presented photos of the aftermath at Starbase, while Michael Baylor, the firm’s live stream producer, shared videos surveying the location. The damage encompassed the van alongside multiple fractured DSLR camera bodies, at least two lenses either halved or cracked, collapsed tripods, and more.
In total, NSF estimated the equipment mounted on the vehicle during the incident to have a value between $25,000 and $30,000.
Regarding the van, there may still be hope. Despite the damage and coolant leakage, NSF managed to drive it away. Reed mentioned that the company is considering converting the Dodge into “El Vanmino” or repurposing it as a camera trailer. Should restoration prove impossible, NSF believes it has served its purpose well.
“We willingly assume these risks to acquire the best live and recorded shots for our audience,” Kevin Reed informed The Drive. “We greatly appreciate the opportunities granted by rocket companies for media access within the ‘Danger Zone’.”
Nevertheless, NSF is capitalizing on this mishap. The website is now offering unique t-shirts featuring the silhouette of the impact-ravaged Dodge Caravan captioned “It was a concrete way to go.”
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