New Mexico residents flee homes as Castelion builds hypersonic missile plant

Castelion, a startup founded by ex-SpaceX executives, is building Project Ranger in Rio Rancho Estates, New Mexico — billed as America's largest dedicated hypersonic manufacturing facility. Roughly 450 homes sit within a danger zone: a hazard report says buildings would be left to burn in a fire, releasing hydrochloric acid gas. The company is valued at $13 billion and has won over $500 million in US military contracts in 18 months.

• Project Ranger spans 1,000 acres and is set for completion by year's end
• Site plans include storing up to 250,000 pounds of ammonium perchlorate
• Blackbeard missile unit cost rose to $3.3 million under Navy contracts
• Castelion's valuation hit $13 billion, up from $2.8 billion at Series B