Hypersonic Missile Factory Threatens New Mexico Community
Founded in November 2022 by former SpaceX leaders, Castelion is a defense technology startup developing Project Ranger, which will be the largest hypersonic manufacturing plant in the U.S. This facility is being constructed on a 1,000-acre plot in Rio Rancho Estates, New Mexico. The groundbreaking took place on January 21, with the facility expected to be completed by the end of this year and to enter mass production in the following year. It is situated close to 450 properties, raising safety concerns regarding potential explosions from stored chemicals. A report from Sandia National Labs highlighted a large fire as a worst-case scenario. Castelion intends to store 250,000 pounds of ammonium perchlorate and 81,000 pounds of explosives. The company has obtained over $500 million in military contracts and is valued at $13 billion. Local residents, including Sally Schultz and Laura Lundberg, have voiced their safety worries.
Key facts
- Castelion, founded in November 2022 by three former SpaceX executives, is building Project Ranger, a hypersonic missile factory in Rio Rancho Estates, New Mexico.
- The 1,000-acre facility broke ground on January 21 and is set to be complete by the end of the year, with mass production as early as next year.
- The site is located just over 1,000 yards from about 450 properties, within a danger zone if explosive chemicals catch fire.
- A Sandia National Labs hazard report identified a massive storage facility fire as the worst-case scenario, with potential to shatter windows nearly four miles away.
- Castelion plans to store up to 250,000 pounds of ammonium perchlorate and up to 81,000 pounds of active explosive material onsite.
- The Rio Rancho Fire Department determined 17 of 26 buildings would be left to burn in a fire, barring firefighters from entering.
- Castelion has received over $500 million in US military contracts in 18 months and reached a $13 billion valuation.
- The Navy has awarded Castelion multiple contracts for its Blackbeard missile, totaling $163.4 million for 50 missiles, or $3.3 million per unit, and a recent contract up to $200 million.
Entities
Artists
- Sally Schultz
- Laura Lundberg
- Sally Leber
- Zachary Darden
- Jason Clifford
- Andrew Kreitz
- Meg Davidson
- Bryce Barlow
- Matt Geisel
- Jay Block
- Alberto Solís
- Martin Heinrich
- Gregg Hull
- Michelle Lujan Grisham
- Rob Black
Institutions
- Castelion
- SpaceX
- Sandia National Labs
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program
- Rio Rancho Fire Department
- Sandoval County Commission
- Sandoval Economic Alliance
- Chamber of Commerce
- US Navy
- US Army
- Congressional Budget Office
- Anduril
- GKN Aerospace
- Pallas Industrials
- WIRED
Locations
- Rio Rancho Estates
- Rio Rancho
- New Mexico
- United States
- Churchill County
- Nevada
- Sandoval County
- Mississippi
- Garden Grove
- California