- Elon Musk tries to create a city called Starbase at SpaceX’s launch facilities in Texas.
- Musk posted on Twitter that the city would be “much larger” than Boca Chica Village, where SpaceX develops its Starship rocket.
- SpaceX approached the judge’s office in Cameron County, Texas, with its plan, the office confirmed.
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Elon Musk is trying to form a new city called Starbase at SpaceX’s launch facilities in Texas.
Musk shared the news Tuesday on Twitter: “The creation of the city of Starbase, Texas,” he wrote.
SpaceX’s Texas facilities are located in Boca Chica Village – a non – governmental city on the southern tip of the state, near Brownsville. The company has been developing its Starship rocket and testing prototypes there since 2014. But Musk said the city of Starbase would cover “an area much larger” than the town.
The justice office in Cameron County, where Boca Chica is, confirmed Musk’s plans to create a city in a statement to Insider.
“In the last few days, SpaceX has been officially approached by SpaceX regarding Elon Musk’s interest in taking over Boca Chica Village in the city of Starbase, Texas. Earlier today, the Cameron County Commissioner was informed of SpaceX’s effort,” the statement.
However, there is no city Starbase yet. Local authorities have warned that Musk will have to make a formal request before the incorporation process can begin.
“If SpaceX and Elon Musk want to follow this path, they must comply with all statutes of incorporation law,” Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. said. said in a statement to Insider. “Cameron County will process all applicable petitions in accordance with applicable law.”
SpaceX did not immediately respond to Insider’s request to comment on its plans.
The company is creating its new, colossal steel launch system, called Starship-Super Heavy, to one day send crew missions to the moon and Mars. Musk, which founded SpaceX in 2002, wants the vehicle to stand 120 meters high and be fast and reusable again. The system can also transport humans at hyper-fast speeds between points on earth.
Boca Chica, where SpaceX is now introducing Starship prototypes on test flights, does not have a public water system – although it does have electricity.
A leaked FAA draft document shared with Insider in January revealed that SpaceX also plans to drill “up to five natural gas wells” and build gas-fired power plants at its Boca Chica facilities.