Astronauts
Astronomy
Constellation
Deep Sky Objects
Moon
Stargazing
Telescope
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Accuracy & Corrections Terms & Condition
COPYRIGHT. All contents of on the site comporting the StarLust branding are Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
STARLUST.ORG / ASTRONOMY

Starbase granted authority to close Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX launches amid public access concerns

Texas lawmakers passed a bill giving the new city of Starbase the power to periodically close Boca Chica Beach, overriding objections from local activists.
PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO
An image of the Starbase space launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas, USA (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | RoschetzkyIstockPhoto)
An image of the Starbase space launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas, USA (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | RoschetzkyIstockPhoto)

Texas lawmakers recently passed legislation that grants the new city of Starbase the power to close Boca Chica Beach periodically. The decision gives municipal officials with close ties to SpaceX more authority over the objections of local activists who are trying to preserve public access to the beach. This measure was a last-minute addition to House Bill 5246, a bill primarily focused on revising the powers and duties of the Texas Space Commission and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, per The Texas Tribune

 SpaceX prepares for their next mission with the Spaceship SN15 at the high bay at the Starbase Space Facility in Boca Chica Texas USA (Image Source: Getty | RoschetzkyIstockPhoto)
SpaceX prepares for their next mission with the Spaceship SN15 at the high bay at the Starbase Space Facility in Boca Chica, Texas, USA. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | RoschetzkyIstockPhoto)

The specific provision, added during a conference committee, enables the Space Commission to coordinate with a city to close a highway or venue temporarily for public safety reasons. It effectively allows Starbase officials to restrict access to Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX launches temporarily. This newly granted authority in South Texas directly empowers Starbase city commissioners to approve these closures, which will impact both State Highway 4, a key road running through Starbase and leading directly to Boca Chica Beach, and the beach itself. According to Representative Greg Bonnen, a Friendswood Republican and chair of the bill's conference committee, this legislative move is crucial for maintaining Texas's prominent role in space exploration. Bonnen emphasized, "The future is being shaped right here in Texas," highlighting the commitment to the burgeoning space industry. 

A person rides their bike near the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 ahead of its launch at Boca Chica beach (Image Source: Getty | Brandon Bell)
A person rides their bike near the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 ahead of its launch at Boca Chica Beach (Image Source: Getty | Brandon Bell)

Defending the addition, Representative Richard Peña Raymond, a Democrat from Laredo, drew a parallel to the management of international bridges in Laredo. He argued that the city of Starbase, being on the ground, would be best equipped to determine the safety of individuals on the beach during launch operations, much like Laredo effectively manages access and safety around its critical infrastructure. However, not all lawmakers agreed. Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, a Democrat from San Antonio, along with several other Democrats, voiced strong opposition to the bill. They highlighted that previous legislative efforts to grant Starbase such authority had consistently failed to even reach the House floor for a vote. 

The Anheuser-Busch Washington's Birthday Parade, Richard Peña Raymond, Texas State Representative (Image Source: Getty | Roberto Galan)
The Anheuser-Busch Washington's Birthday Parade, Richard Peña Raymond, Texas State Representative (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Roberto Galan)

Fischer further contended that the responsibility for managing the beach, including decisions about its closure, rightfully rested with the county commissioners. He eloquently posed the fundamental question, "The question is who gets to make the call and who is in the best position to have the public interest in mind in closing a public beach?" Fischer further added, "I submit to you it's not the people in the company town that's effectively a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX, and it's not the Space Commission." This strong stance from Democratic lawmakers underscores the significant opposition from local organizations that also vehemently opposed the measure, per the outlet. 

With the approval of this legislation, that critical authority now rests with Starbase, a newly established city whose residents and elected officials are notably either current employees of SpaceX or possess direct affiliations with the company. The implications of this transfer of power are already becoming clear, as the mayor and city commissioners of Starbase recently held their inaugural public meetings. During these initial sessions, they proceeded to appoint essential staff, formally adopt city codes, and, significantly, approve a financial plan that includes seeking a loan directly from SpaceX to fund the city's operations through the end of the current fiscal year. 

MORE ON STAR LUST
Musk's decision for the drastic measure was in retaliation to President Trump's public statements to revoke government contracts from his businesses.
4 hours ago
During a dispute over a major tax bill, President Donald Trump revealed he wanted to cut down on Musk's funding.
4 hours ago
The new satellites are essential for the Resilient Missile Warning Tracking Epoch 2 program.
1 day ago
Texas lawmakers passed a bill giving the new city of Starbase the power to periodically close Boca Chica Beach, overriding objections from local activists.
1 day ago
SpaceX is aiming for an aggressive 170 launches this year, significantly surpassing their previous record of 134 orbital liftoffs, set just last year.
1 day ago
Elon Musk announced SpaceX is projected to earn roughly $15.5 billion this year, solidifying its commercial space dominance.
2 days ago
Major General Stephen G. Purdy delivered scathing written testimony to a US House subcommittee, harshly criticizing United Launch Alliance (ULA) for its long-delayed Vulcan rocket program.
2 days ago
The extension aims to tackle the complexities of the software system that faced setbacks during an upgrade.
3 days ago
Elon Musk's long-standing ambition to colonize Mars continues to drive SpaceX's Starship development, with a mission to the Red Planet still targeted for 2026.
4 days ago
The U.S. Space Force has ordered two more advanced GPS III Follow-on satellites from Lockheed Martin for $509.7 million.
7 days ago
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin aims to launch its 12th human spaceflight, NS-32, using the reusable New Shepard vehicle from West Texas this Saturday, May 31.
May 29, 2025
The mission, named Starlink 17-1, sent 24 broadband internet satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Base.
May 28, 2025
A Falcon 9 rocket launched the SpaceX Starlink missions from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
May 27, 2025
The launch took place amid the talks of replacing the Minuteman III ICBM with the LGM-35 Sentinel.
May 26, 2025
In an announcement in the Oval Office alongside the Secretary of Defense, Trump revealed his plans for the $175 billion program.
May 23, 2025
A local environmental advocacy group highlights through several letters how increased launches will impact the flora and fauna.
May 23, 2025
The Discriminating Space Sensor (DSS) is being developed to greatly enhance the capability to differentiate real missile threats from irrelevant clutter.
May 22, 2025
SpaceX's increased launch approval from the FAA mandates environmental monitoring in collaboration with wildlife experts.
May 21, 2025
Acting NASA chief Janet Petro addresses the successful Blue Ghost Moon Mission and the touchdown of the private lunar lander.
May 20, 2025
On May 14 at Spaceport America in New Mexico, a subscale rocket powered by Venus Aerospace's Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) successfully launched at 9:37 a.m.
May 19, 2025