SpaceX is aiming for Mars, as Elon Musk’s aerospace manufacturer strives to propel humans toward becoming a multi-planetary civilization. Meanwhile, on our home planet, the head of President Donald Trump’s administration is focusing on earthly matters.
Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE) is hopeful that his company will get an opportunity to establish its own governance in Texas.
Starbase is where SpaceX conducts research, launches, and tests rockets, and it might soon be designated as the latest municipality in the United States.
On Saturday evening, an initial tally in Cameron County, Texas, indicated that more than 97% of voters supported the incorporation of the SpaceX launch facility into a separate municipality. This outcome represents a victory for Musk as his space exploration firm aims to boost the yearly launch volume in South Texas fivefold.
Nevertheless, this won’t be an ordinary town anymore—it will transform into a company community predominantly populated by SpaceX employees.
It covers an area of less than two square miles and directly borders a Texas state nature reserve as well as Boca Chica Beach alongside the Gulf Coast.
FURTHER: SpaceX Successfully Launches First Humans to Travel Over Earth’s Poles
Last year, SpaceX filed a petition with the state of Texas to establish a new town. This proposed municipality would operate independently, capable of forming its own fire departments, emergency services, and potentially even its own school districts.
Several hundred currently registered residents, which includes Elon Musk since he is enrolled to vote at an address inside the suggested town limits, are now casting their votes to make this change official — a former tiny, quiet coastal neighborhood near Brownsville, Texas, might soon become recognized as Starbase City.
Rene Medrano, who lives in Brownsville, has a house located 20 miles inland from the coastline. With fond memories of visiting Boca Chica Beach during his childhood and later taking his own family there, Medrano shared with ABC News that beachgoing is deeply ingrained in him.
He explained, “It used to be known as the poor man’s beach since all you needed to do was hop into your car or truck, gather your neighbors, cousins, aunts, and uncles, and head out for some fun without having to shell out any money. Seeing how things are now… well, it’s quite discouraging.”
SpaceX had
It was their initial Starship launch in April 2023.
; successfully coming off and clearing the launch pad, then losing control of its super heavy booster engines. The company said it triggered Starship’s flight termination system after the boosters failed to separate and it veered off its planned trajectory.
FURTHER: The SpaceX Dragon has safely splashdown, bringing NASA astronauts back to Earth.
Medrano remembered that over a decade ago, the company started setting the stage for something far larger. In 2014, he recounted how a SpaceX representative visited his wife’s school to promote what they called a “modest testing facility,” though this individual assured everyone at the time that public access to the beach would still be allowed.
He asked who could have predicted they’d want to go to Mars a decade later,” he remarked. “I mean, that definitely wasn’t part of the plan. Right?
Since 2014, SpaceX has conducted eight launches from Boca Chica with mixed outcomes. Currently, the company is seeking permission from the FAA to obtain licenses enabling them to conduct as many as 25 launches annually.
“As many visitors come to the island to witness the rocket launches, they eventually depart,” Medrano stated. “We observe the
spaceship blowups
. We see the environments, you know, with all the rocket launches being torn up around that area. We see Boca Chica Beach the way we knew it — we don’t know that place anymore.”
Bekah Hinojosa, who leads a local environmental group, told ABC News that SpaceX has disrupted everyday life in the area.
“The rocket launches are dangerous. They cause our homes to shake. SpaceX has been caught illegally dumping polluted water onto Boca Chica Beach, into our ecosystems,” she said. “The rent is going up. And it’s all associated with, you know, SpaceX coming into this area and colonizing the region.”
Is the objective of sending people to Mars set by Trump and Musk achievable?
Should this region form its own municipality, SpaceX aims to gain authority over the adjacent beach and the thoroughfare leading to the spaceport. Legislation introduced in the Texas statehouse seeks to grant Starbase the ability to restrict access to beaches and roads during weekdays.
Texas State Representative Janie Lopez, who
authored a bill
In relation to Starbase, testified at an April 14 committee hearing that it will not remove access to Boca Chica Beach for the public.
If the residents choose on May 3rd to form their own town, they will select their governing council and make decisions regarding closings according to what the FAA mandates.
There is genuine worry among residents regarding the expenses associated with SpaceX’s ambitious projects. Medrano referred to Texas’ Open Beaches Act in this regard.
guarantees free public access
to its sandy shores.
“Hand over the beach… I mean, why is that so difficult?” he asked. “Head to Mars, carry out your tasks, take your rockets and depart. However, allow us to pursue ours as well.”
ABC News contacted SpaceX for their input, but has yet to receive a response.
Leave a Reply