Musk aims to transform SpaceX's site into a personal urban center.
Musk aims to transform SpaceX's site into a personal urban center.
Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk intends to transform a SpaceX facility in Texas into a city. SpaceX has sent a letter to local authorities seeking permission to transform Starbase, where they construct and launch their Starship rockets, into an urban center.
As stated in the letter penned by Kathryn Lueders, the site's CEO, this change is vital for the company's ongoing expansion and workforce growth. According to SpaceX, local residents have signed a petition in support of the transformation.
The concept of turning Starbase into a separate city has been discussed before. Musk mentioned it on social media in 2021, saying, "We are founding the city of Starbase, Texas." This is, however, the first time an official petition for incorporation has been submitted, as confirmed by County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the region's top elected official. He added that they would inspect the petition to ensure it meets all legal requirements.
Following the release of a study at the beginning of the year, it was revealed that over 3,400 SpaceX employees and contractors are currently based at the Starbase location. This rapid growth of SpaceX in the region has stirred some local opposition. In July, a group called Save RGV filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of environmental violations and discharging polluted water into a nearby bay. SpaceX countered by stating that a state investigation proved there were no environmental hazards.
The area is situated near the Mexican border, at the southern tip of Texas. Musk had announced earlier in 2021 that he would be relocating the headquarters of SpaceX and his social media company, X, from California to Texas.
The transformation of Starbase into a city is seen as crucial for SpaceX's expansion and workforce growth, as mentioned by Kathryn Lueders, the site's CEO. This proposed city, named Starbase, is part of Elon Musk's plans, as he stated on social media in 2021, aiming to establish it in the United States of America, specifically in Texas.