The North News
Chandigarh, May 5
Voters in a small South Texas community near the Mexico border have approved the creation of “Starbase,” a new city centered around Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket operations. Originally proposed by Musk in 2021, the city’s approval was widely expected, with most of the 283 eligible voters believed to be SpaceX employees. Musk announced on X, “It is now a real city!, the NDTV reported.
According to The Hindu, Starbase serves as the launch site for SpaceX’s major missions under contracts with NASA and the US Department of Defense, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually reach Mars. While local officials have praised SpaceX for bringing jobs, critics warn the city may expand Musk’s control, including over public spaces like Boca Chica Beach. Legislative efforts are underway to shift authority from the county to the new city government, aligning with SpaceX’s request to boost annual rocket launches.
Starbase now spans 1.5 square miles of mixed housing and launch facilities. A 2024 letter from its General Manager cited plans to grow the community and formalize services already managed by SpaceX, including roads, utilities, and education, the news outlet further said.
