On a hot August day in south Texas, Bekah Hinojosa, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Center, turns up the car’s air conditioning as she travels along Highway 4 to Boca Chica Beach. Large trucks and futuristic Cybertrucks speed by in the opposite lane. ‘This road is always under construction,’ Hinojosa notes. ‘SpaceX is rapidly changing the entire landscape of Boca Chica.’

Starbase, a newly formed city in 2025, is asking its residents to consider annexing about 7,100 acres of state and private land. This city supports SpaceX’s workforce growth and its capacity to develop and manufacture for increased rocket launches. In April 2025, the FAA approved SpaceX’s Boca Chica operations for up to 25 annual Starship/Super Heavy launches and landings. Musk plans to create a launch complex for missions to the moon and Mars.

The current SpaceX complex includes launch pads and manufacturing sites. Starbase controls access to a nearby beach and nature reserve during launches. According to documents shared with landowners, annexation would improve coordination with agencies like the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.

Driving off the highway onto a dirt road, Hinojosa expresses concern over Starbase’s expansion. ‘We’re on pristine land that a property owner doesn’t want absorbed into Starbase,’ she says. Activists and landowners worry about the community impact. Barbara Buckner, whose family has owned land in the area for decades, questions if SpaceX or residents will be prioritized. Starbase’s mayor and a commissioner work for SpaceX.

Gerold Podraza, another landowner, voices opposition to the annexation. He says it showcases how money influences politicians against community interests. In 2024, an EPA report cited SpaceX for Clean Water Act violations, highlighting environmental risks. ‘I’ve documented debris after launches,’ Hinojosa states.

SpaceX didn’t address NPR’s inquiries on environmental concerns. Sofia Benavides, a county commissioner, says Starbase’s expansion is legally permitted. A decision on annexation requires feedback from landowners and public hearings before a September vote. Hinojosa’s group considers legal action to stop the annexation. ‘SpaceX threatens the Rio Grande Valley. We’re committed to resisting,’ she declares.