Musk Gets His Texas Wish: SpaceX Launch Site Officially Becomes the City of Starbase

Musk Gets His Texas Wish: SpaceX Launch Site Officially Becomes the City of Starbase

By Paul J. Weber and Jim Vertuno | May 3, 2025 | McALLEN, Texas (AP)

The South Texas home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX is now officially a city — and it carries a name with galactic ambition: Starbase.

In a local election held Saturday, residents of the small community — primarily SpaceX employees — voted overwhelmingly to incorporate as a city. The final tally was 212 in favor and just 6 opposed, according to results published by the Cameron County Elections Department.

Musk celebrated the news on his social media platform X, declaring, “Starbase is now a real city!”

Located near the southern tip of Texas where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf of Mexico, Starbase serves as SpaceX’s primary launch site and testing facility. The site plays a critical role in NASA and Department of Defense missions, with long-term ambitions to send astronauts back to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

Musk first floated the idea of turning the area into a city in 2021. With 283 eligible voters — most of them affiliated with SpaceX — the outcome was never in much doubt.
A Personal Win for Musk Amid Challenges

The victory marks a personal milestone for Musk, whose public image has taken a hit in recent years amid his vocal support for former President Donald Trump’s federal budget cuts and a sharp decline in Tesla profits.

While SpaceX continues to draw praise from local officials for bringing investment and jobs to the region, the city’s incorporation has sparked concerns about corporate overreach. Critics worry about the growing influence Musk may wield in the area, especially as it relates to access to public resources like Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park, which are often closed for rocket launches and engine tests.
Potential for Expanded Authority

Bills are now moving through the Texas Legislature that would transfer authority over beach closures from Cameron County to the new Starbase city government — a move SpaceX argues would streamline operations. A separate proposal would criminalize noncompliance with evacuation orders during launch preparations, making it a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. has voiced opposition to shifting this authority, stating the current system has worked well and represents the broader public’s interests.
Pushback from Locals and Indigenous Groups

The city vote has ignited protests from environmental activists and local residents. On Saturday, the South Texas Environmental Justice Network organized a demonstration drawing dozens of people.

Among them was Josette Hinojosa, who brought her young daughter to the beach. “Some days it’s closed, and some days you get turned away,” she said. “We’re here to fight for a beach that our families have enjoyed for generations.”

Christopher Basaldú, an organizer and member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, emphasized the land’s cultural and historical significance. “It’s not just important,” he said. “It’s sacred.”
Why Incorporate?

SpaceX has not publicly explained why it sought to incorporate Starbase but has made its intentions known in communications with local officials. In a 2024 letter, Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders said city status would support the company's need to grow as a community, noting that SpaceX already manages local roads, utilities, schooling, and medical services for residents.

The newly minted city spans just 1.5 square miles, dotted with midcentury homes and Airstream trailers — and, increasingly, rocket parts and launchpads. SpaceX is also seeking federal approval to increase the number of annual launches at the site from five to 25.

As the company’s footprint expands, so too does the debate over how much control one man — and his company — should have over the future of a Texas coastline community.