Elon Musk Proposes Relocating SpaceX Headquarters to Texas and Transforming Starbase into a City
Elon Musk has set his sights on moving SpaceX’s headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to the Starbase facility in Texas, with plans to establish a new city centered around the site. The proposed city aims to foster community development and support workforce expansion to accelerate SpaceX’s ambitious goals.
Incorporating Starbase into a City
As reported by AP, SpaceX recently sent a letter to local officials requesting steps to incorporate the Starbase site near Boca Chica, Texas, into a city. The petition was reportedly submitted by Starbase residents.
This concept isn’t entirely new—Musk hinted at creating “the city of Starbase, Texas” in a 2021 social media post. However, SpaceX has now taken formal steps to make the idea a reality. Boca Chica, located near the US-Mexico border, serves as the company’s primary site for producing and testing the Starship rocket system for lunar and Mars missions.
A Vision for Growth
Kathryn Lueders, General Manager of Starbase, highlighted the need for incorporation in a letter to Cameron County officials, stating:
“Expanding Starbase into a dynamic community is crucial for speeding up the advancement and manufacturing of Starship.” Turning Starbase into an incorporated city will enable the development of the infrastructure and amenities needed to make it a premier place to live and work.”
The request seeks a local election to approve the incorporation, which Cameron County officials are now reviewing. Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the county’s top elected official, confirmed that this was the first official petition filed despite earlier discussions.
Economic Impact and Workforce Growth
According to Cameron County data, the Starbase site already employs over 3,500 full-time workers and contractors, with more than 3,000 jobs created in recent years. A new facility called “Starfactory” has been constructed to replace temporary production tents, supporting SpaceX’s mission to build and test rockets designed for Moon and Mars exploration.
The incorporation of Starbase into a city could streamline operations and attract even more talent to the area, aligning with Musk’s broader vision of innovation and community development.
SpaceX has not issued a public comment on the proposal, as noted in a Bloomberg report.
