Starbase, USA

Hundreds of Texas voters approved the establishment of a SpaceX city over the weekend. Starbase, Texas—a roughly 1.5-square-mile coastal area on the state's southernmost tip—will operate as its own municipality, pending certification of Saturday's election results. Learn more about the SpaceX campus here.

More than 500 people reside within the proposed town borders, most of them employed by SpaceX. The overwhelming vote in favor of incorporation (212-6) enables Starbase to create its own zoning laws, raise revenue, hire local officials, and block roads for rocket launches. Saturday's vote also selected the town's first mayor—engineer Bobby Peden—alongside two commissioners, all SpaceX employees or family members. 

SpaceX uses the area on Boca Chica Beach to test its 400-foot-tall Starship—the world's largest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hopes to use Starship for an inaugural mission sending humans to Mars as soon as 2028. Learn more about SpaceX from 1440 Topics here (w/video).