Elon Musk Gets His City: SpaceX’s Starbase Officially Approved in South Texas

McALLEN, Texas — Elon Musk’s vision for a futuristic city centered around space exploration is now reality. The South Texas site of SpaceX’s rocket operations has officially become a city — and its name is as galactic as its ambitions: Starbase.

The vote to incorporate Starbase as a city passed overwhelmingly on Saturday, with 212 residents voting in favor and only 6 opposed, according to official results from the Cameron County Elections Department. Most of those eligible to vote — only 283 in total — are believed to be SpaceX employees.

Musk Celebrates Victory as Starbase Becomes “A Real City”

Musk took to his platform, X, to celebrate the news, calling Starbase “now a real city!” The billionaire first proposed the idea back in 2021, and Saturday’s vote solidified what many considered a foregone conclusion.

Starbase is home to SpaceX’s ambitious rocket launch facility, which works under contract with both NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. The site supports projects aimed at sending astronauts back to the moon — and eventually, to Mars.

Support and Skepticism

While local officials have largely welcomed SpaceX for the jobs and investment it has brought to the region, not everyone is on board with Musk’s expanding influence.

Critics argue that formalizing Starbase as a city could give Musk outsized control over the area, including the authority to shut down public beaches and parks like Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park during rocket launches. SpaceX officials have said these closures are needed to ensure safety during launches and equipment movement, but some community members see it differently.

Growing Tensions Over Beach Access and Local Authority

Legislative efforts are already underway in Texas to shift authority from Cameron County to Starbase’s new city government, including control over beach closures. One proposed bill would even make it a Class B misdemeanor — with penalties of up to 180 days in jail — for anyone who refuses to evacuate the beach during closures.

That prospect has sparked community backlash. On Saturday, while the city vote took place, dozens of demonstrators gathered in protest, organized by the South Texas Environmental Justice Network.

Among them was Josette Hinojosa, who brought her young daughter to build sandcastles nearby. “Some days it’s closed, and some days you get turned away,” she said, expressing concern over losing public access to a beach her family has cherished for generations.

Christopher Basaldú, a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, called the area sacred. “It’s not just important,” he said. “It’s sacred.”

Inside Starbase: A Tiny City With Big Plans

Starbase currently spans just 1.5 square miles, dotted with airstream trailers, modest homes, and a few crisscrossing roads near the U.S.-Mexico border. Yet its ambitions are vast.

According to a 2024 letter from Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders, SpaceX already handles roads, utilities, education, and medical care for its workers in the area. She argued that city status was necessary for future growth as a “community.”

SpaceX is also requesting permission from federal regulators to increase the number of annual launches from the site — from five to 25 per year.

While SpaceX declined to comment on the vote, its intent is clear: Starbase isn’t just a name — it’s a launchpad for Musk’s biggest dreams.

Source: AP News – Musk gets his Texas wish. SpaceX launch site is approved as the new city of Starbase