Key facts
- Starbase, Texas, is a city incorporated in May 2025, serving as SpaceX's headquarters and launch site for its Starship program.
- The city encompasses 1.5 square miles and is home to nearly 500 people, primarily SpaceX employees.
- SpaceX has faced criticism regarding alleged environmental pollution and blocking public access to beaches and open spaces.
- The city's mayor and commissioners are current or former SpaceX employees.
- SpaceX plans to expand Starbase with additional housing, stores, and restaurants.
Starbase, Texas, a city incorporated in May 2025, serves as the headquarters and primary launch site for Elon Musk's SpaceX and its Starship program. The 1.5-square-mile municipality, largely populated by SpaceX employees, has faced significant opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about the company's impact on the environment, wildlife, and public access to natural spaces.
Residents have voiced worries about potential pollution from rocket launches and SpaceX's alleged pattern of restricting access to beaches and other public areas. Environmentalists point to debris scatter from previous Starship test flights and potential increases in chemical and sonic pollution affecting endangered species. Despite these concerns, Starbase was officially incorporated following a vote primarily by SpaceX employees, who also elected a mayor and commissioners all affiliated with the company.
SpaceX plans to expand Starbase into a full-fledged company town, with additional housing, stores, and restaurants to accommodate its growing workforce. The company has also received approval to increase its rocket launch frequency from five to 25 per year, further intensifying local anxieties about the long-term effects of its operations on the community and the delicate South Texas ecosystem.