SpaceX’s Starbase, the company’s launch site turned city, is now officially a city in Cameron County, Texas. However, not all neighbors are thrilled about this development. The city, which is situated on 1.5 square miles of land in the Rio Grande Valley, is mainly occupied by SpaceX employees living on company-owned property. It is located near a habitat for endangered wildlife and a public beach.
Starbase serves as the primary testing and launch location for SpaceX’s Starship, a fully reusable spacecraft that is intended to revolutionize human and uncrewed space travel with its large payload capacity and frequent flight schedule. If Starship’s development progresses as planned, it could soon be transporting crew and cargo to destinations like the lunar surface and Mars. However, some local residents are concerned about the potential negative impacts of a town built around a space company, such as pollution and restricted access to public spaces.
Christopher Basaldú, an anthropologist and environmentalist living in nearby Brownsville, Texas, and a co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, expressed his concerns about SpaceX’s operations. He mentioned that SpaceX has already proven to be a bad neighbor in the past. The area where Starbase is located was once significant to the Indigenous Carrizo/Comecrudo people and is now predominantly Latino and among the poorest regions in the country.
SpaceX began acquiring property in the area in 2012, and since then, company housing and rocket infrastructure have been expanding. Despite the company’s efforts to build a community for its employees, there have been complaints from neighbors about environmental issues related to SpaceX’s operations. For example, the first launch of the Starship vehicle in 2023 resulted in debris scattering across the landscape and impacting protected habitats and public beaches.
Local environmentalists have raised concerns about the potential increase in pollution and its impact on vulnerable species in the area. Despite these tensions, Starbase was officially incorporated as a city in May, with only eligible residents, mostly SpaceX employees, voting for its incorporation. The city’s boundaries now include the access road to Boca Chica Beach, and a pending bill in the Texas Legislature could shift control over beach closures to the city leaders.
Residents like Suquiery Santillana, who has visited Boca Chica Beach since childhood, are concerned about the changes brought about by SpaceX’s presence in the area. While she appreciates the job opportunities the company has brought, she would like more communication about closures and launch plans. Members of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe, who have a cultural connection to the beach, also have concerns about the impact of SpaceX’s activities on their sacred land. The intermittent access restrictions imposed by SpaceX’s launches have been a point of contention for some tribe members, who feel that these limitations hinder their ability to freely engage in longstanding traditions on their ancestral land. Activities such as fishing and tribal ceremonies, which have been practiced for thousands of years, are being disrupted by the increased launch operations at the site.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted approval for SpaceX to boost the number of Starbase launches from five to 25 per year. This decision has raised concerns among local residents and environmental advocates about the potential escalation of SpaceX’s activities in the area. With plans for additional housing, offices, and rocket launch facilities in the works, the expansion of Starbase could have significant environmental impacts and disrupt the daily lives of nearby communities.
Jim Chapman, a member of the local environmental justice organization Save RGV, has expressed worries about SpaceX’s ability to bypass regulatory procedures due to its incorporation within the county. He highlights the lack of oversight and approval denials as potential risks associated with the continued growth of Starbase. Additionally, the proximity of new natural gas projects to the launch site has raised safety concerns, as volatile explosions caused by rocket debris could pose a threat to residents in the Rio Grande Valley.
As SpaceX continues to pursue ambitious goals in space exploration, including Elon Musk’s vision of interplanetary travel, the frequency of Starship test flights from Starbase is expected to increase. However, there are doubts about the company’s consideration for the well-being of local communities and the environment. With Musk’s track record of setting lofty deadlines and falling short on delivery, it remains to be seen how SpaceX will navigate the balance between its space exploration endeavors and the impact on those living in close proximity to its facilities.
Overall, the rapid development and expansion of Starbase raise important questions about environmental sustainability, community safety, and cultural preservation. As SpaceX pushes forward with its ambitious plans, it is essential for the company to prioritize the well-being of all stakeholders involved and address the concerns raised by local residents and advocates.
