Elon Musk has obtained approval to establish his own city in the US, aligning with his broader ambition of “colonizing Mars.”
Earlier this year, Musk shifted SpaceX’s headquarters from California to Texas, driven by his conflict with California’s gender identity laws, and now he aims to undertake a much larger project there.
He envisions transforming the Boca Chica SpaceX headquarters into a city named Starbase.
Starbase currently serves as the facility and launch site for SpaceX’s rocket program, which holds contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA, with aspirations of sending astronauts to the Moon and eventually Mars.
Bloomberg reported that residents, many of whom are employed by SpaceX, voted 173 to four to incorporate Starbase as a city in Texas, from a pool of 283 eligible voters.
The vote also resulted in the appointment of the city’s first mayor, Bobby Peden, and two city commissioners, Jenna Petrzelka and Jordan Buss, all associated with SpaceX.
Elon Musk expressed his excitement on Twitter, announcing that Starbase is “now a real city.”
Starbase’s separate statement read, “Becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity’s place in space.”
The idea of Starbase was initially proposed by Musk in 2021, with the new city’s approval almost assured.
However, Musk’s popularity has dwindled since his high-profile role with Donald Trump’s Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has implemented significant federal workforce cuts.
Opponents of his appointment have protested outside Tesla dealerships while the company’s profits have declined.
In contrast, SpaceX has largely remained unaffected, as many view the company as a catalyst for local job creation and investment.
Nevertheless, concerns persist about the potential for Musk’s influence to grow with the establishment of a city.
According to the Daily Mail, the state Legislature might come under the control of the newly appointed mayor and city council, allowing Starbase to acquire and potentially close a popular beach and state park for additional rocket launch facilities.
SpaceX has already sought federal approval to increase its South Texas rocket launches from five to 25 annually.
Last year, Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders reached out to local authorities to request placing the city incorporation on the ballot, stating, “We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community.”
The letter also highlighted Starbase’s existing management of roads, utilities, as well as schools and medical facilities for its residents.