Introduction to Starbase

The residents of a small area in southern Texas have voted in favor of making Starbase an official city. With SpaceX and its employees residing there, this area is where Elon Musk’s company constructs rocket engines, launches spacecraft, and produces other space-related technology.

The Voting Results

According to the final vote count, 212 residents voted for incorporating Starbase as a city, while only six voted against it. Notably, most of the eligible voters in the area are SpaceX employees, and only 143 votes were required to make Starbase a city.

Reaction and Future Plans

Elon Musk celebrated the news on X, and the city of Starbase made its first post, stating that becoming a city will help in building a better community for the individuals working on the future of humanity’s presence in space. The concept of Starbase was first introduced by Musk in March 2021 on what was then Twitter.

Implications of the New City Designation

Now that the vote has taken place, Starbase will be separated from Cameron County as its own city, covering an area of approximately 1.5 square miles. This designation is significant, as it may allow SpaceX to bypass governmental bureaucracy when scheduling rocket launches. Previously, the company had to obtain permission from county authorities to close a nearby highway or restrict public access to certain areas for launches.

Next Steps and Validations

Although the vote to designate Starbase as an official Texas city has passed, county commissioners and judges still need to declare the election results official, according to Remi Garza, the elections administrator for Cameron County. While SpaceX may benefit from handling its own building and permitting processes, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino told NBC News that any changes to the existing procedures for SpaceX would be unnecessary.