Elon Musk’s SpaceX Set to Launch Its Own City: Starbase Vote Underway

HOUSTON: Elon Musk’s ambition to turn SpaceX’s sprawling Texas base into a functioning city may soon become reality. On Saturday, a vote is being held that could grant municipal status to Starbase, a SpaceX-run township on the Gulf Coast near the U.S.-Mexico border.

With most of the 283 eligible voters tied to SpaceX, approval is widely expected. The new municipality would allow the company to bypass local regulatory hurdles, set its own building rules, and levy taxes. Voters are also selecting a mayor — the only name on the ballot is Bobby Peden, SpaceX’s VP of testing and launch.

The push comes during a turbulent period for Musk. As his focus shifts away from politics and back to Tesla, the Starbase city project offers an opportunity to consolidate operations and autonomy at the Boca Chica launch site, first opened in 2019.

However, environmental concerns loom large. Activist Bekah Hinojosa warns of more “destruction,” citing increased seismic activity, threats to wildlife, and further restrictions on public beach access. Boca Chica Beach, a historically vital site for local communities and Indigenous tribes, could become off-limits if the city is formed. In fact, environmental regulators have previously flagged SpaceX for pollution and chemical spills in the area.

Despite promises by SpaceX officials to maintain environmental safeguards, critics remain skeptical, fearing that Starbase could prioritize corporate expansion over community rights and ecological balance.

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