SpaceX’s big plans face pushback from locals and activists

A small but vocal group in southern Texas isn’t happy about SpaceX’s latest moves. The company’s Starbase facility has become a flashpoint for environmental concerns, especially after a 2023 test launch left a nearby town covered in dust and sparked a fire that burned over three acres in a nearby state park. Residents like Bekah Hinojosa, who lives in Brownsville just a few miles from the site, say the constant activity feels like an attack on their community. Now, as investors prepare to visit Starbase ahead of SpaceX’s planned IPO, activists are stepping up their campaign. Hinojosa and others are calling for a boycott of the public stock offering, arguing that the company’s environmental record should make it a risky investment. They’re also pushing pension funds—like New York City’s—to steer clear of the IPO entirely. The timing is no accident: with SpaceX seeking fresh capital, critics want to make sure the company feels real consequences for its impact.The debate isn’t just about rockets and concrete dust. SpaceX’s side projects are also under scrutiny. xAI, another Musk-linked company, is facing a lawsuit from the NAACP, which accuses it of harming air quality in Memphis, particularly in Black neighborhoods. The issue? Gas-powered turbines at a data center, which activists say release pollutants that disproportionately affect already vulnerable communities. Not everyone agrees with the criticism. Some investors, like Cathie Wood, remain confident in SpaceX’s future. But the growing pushback shows how environmental and social concerns are becoming harder to ignore—even for companies aiming for the stars.