Elon Musk’s newly inaugurated space city has been handed control over a piece of Boca Chica beach as it expands its influence over the people and environment living near SpaceX’s rocket launch site.
Texas’ Cameron County approved an agreement to hand over parts of the beach to Starbase in late September, granting SpaceX the ability to close the beach at Boca Chica ahead of the 11th test launch of its Starship megarocket, currently set for Monday. The move comes after SpaceX has faced criticism over its frequent rocket launches, which have become increasingly disruptive to both the local community and surrounding wildlife.
Gizmodo has asked both SpaceX and Cameron County for comment.
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Musk’s dream of turning Starbase into this own city became a reality earlier this year when the majority of residents voted in favor of the company town. The city spans about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers) and is home to roughly 500 residents, the majority of whom are SpaceX employees and contractors.
SpaceX began buying land in the area in 2012, and has expanded its presence with housing and other facilities, even announcing tentative plans to open a $15 million shopping center. Shortly after Starbase was established as its own town, it sent out a memo to residents regarding a new zoning ordinance and updated city map that could potentially force them to abandon their property.
Before Starbase was established, SpaceX had been campaigning for the ability to close public beaches and roads in Boca Chica for rocket launches, ground testing, or other related activities during the week. The county’s recent agreement with Starbase grants the company town authority to close down the beach, a decision that previously fell under the authority of Cameron County.
Starship ramping up
With Starbase’s newly acquired power, the company may decide to close down the beach to support the development of its Starship rocket. Starship is scheduled to liftoff for its 11th test flight on Monday, October 13. Once Starship is fully operational, SpaceX aims to launch its giant rocket from Starbase as many as 25 times a year.
Local environmental groups in Boca Chica have voiced their concern that Starship’s increased launch cadence will have a negative impact on the local wildlife and surrounding habitat. SpaceX is also facing fines of almost $150,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly illegally dumping pollutants into a Texas waterway without a permit.