South Texans Take a Stand Against SpaceX: What You Need to Know

SpaceX experienced an improvement in its second launch attempt of the Starship rocket on Saturday, receiving commendations after the first launch ended in a mid-air explosion at 24 miles altitude.

Some South Texas residents, however, opposed SpaceX’s operations. In a press release following Saturday’s launch, local residents reported their homes shaking and debris falling on the community.

Christopher Basaldú with South Texas Environmental Justice Network expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “SpaceX continues to pollute and destroy our beautiful beach, coastline, and wildlife. It serves only the wealthy and disregards safety and environmental regulations.”

Another Gulf Is Possible, a grassroots collaborative with members from Brownsville, Texas, to Pensacola, Florida, will host a documentary screening in Brownsville on Dec. 1. The documentary will highlight community opposition to SpaceX’s encroachment on pristine lands, as well as objections to two proposed LNG projects.

Through storytelling and interviews, the film aims to shed light on the consequences that these powerful forces impose on the people, the environment, and the delicate ecosystem of the region.

Environmental and logistical concerns around Starship launches have long been voiced by South Texans. Before the launch, multiple organizations opposed SpaceX’s activities and accused the company of threatening wildlife species in the area. Following the launch, environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration for not conducting an environmental review.

SpaceX received a license for a second launch from Boca Chica over the weekend. Company executives expressed glee over the rocket’s performance, emphasizing the test’s importance in improving the rocket’s reliability as part of the company’s goal to enable multi-planetary life.

Some South Texans remained focused on SpaceX’s impact on Earth and criticized supporters of space travel for overlooking the community suffering from SpaceX’s inadequate protections for their neighbors and natural places.

A documentary screening, hosted by Another Gulf Is Possible, will be held in Brownsville on December 1 at Rio Bravo Office Space from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.