Elon Musk’s aerospace company is launching the world’s most powerful rockets from Texas. Supporters say that the richest billionaire on the planet saved the life of a small town, while haters worry that Starbase has ruined the environment and daily lives of local people.
It is known that SpaceX has recruited more than 1,800 employees to work at Starbase. These people are proud to be part of the community.
“There are certain things that need to happen in a community that are generational or transformational. This is definitely one of them,” local official Eddie Treviño Jr. said when commenting on Starbase.
Most SpaceX employees work at its headquarters and factory in Hawthorne, California. Missile Complex – about 20 miles east of downtown Brownsville, very close to parks, ranches, and wildlife preserves.
Gloria Thomas, a Brownsville environmentalist, said SpaceX is encroaching on rare natural lands.
“We have a lot of things that are historically significant. Starbase is not even related to us,” he said.
According to records, SpaceX lawyers said the company spent more than 7 years investing $3 billion in building launch pads. More than 1,600 flights were recorded from the airport next to SpaceX headquarters in California and Brownsville from 2021 to the end of October. Many people came to visit and take commemorative photos.
“I think Starbase is the future of humanity,” said Calvin Wehrle, a SpaceX fan.
Meanwhile, Ellen Tyma doesn’t think so. She and her husband lived a few miles southwest of Starbase and felt extremely disappointed when launch operations expanded. “They don’t care about us. They will do everything they can to force us to leave,” she said.
The lands surrounding Starbase are significant for SpaceX because rocket launches must be conducted in an isolated location. Meanwhile, this has long been an important habitat for migratory birds and sea turtles.
Exhibit at a local restaurant
“It’s really frustrating and sad that this happened in a place that should be peaceful,” said Justin LeClaire, a conservation biologist who studies bird populations around Starbase.
SpaceX is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. The Federal Aviation Administration recently gave Starship the green light based on analysis by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Still, a group of locals sued the FAA. They argue that regulators do not fully appreciate the negative impact that Starship could cause.
“I want to see him out of here,” Juan Mancias, the prosecutor’s representative, said of Musk and said there is a fight against SpaceX.
Last year, a wall painted with an image of Elon Musk was defaced with the words “Stop SpaceX”. This is said to be the culmination of anger among locals, who believe that drawing Musk on the wall will not help the city of Brownsville reflect the correct culture.
However, it cannot be denied that the city of Brownsville has benefited a lot from Elon Musk. A land fever took place after the billionaire urged people to invest money to buy a house in South Padre in March 2021: “Consider moving to Starbase or the Brownsville, South Padre area in Texas.”
In just 12 months, this district’s economy changed significantly. Most of the immigrants who come here are passionate about space and decided to bet their fortune on the fame of the richest billionaire on the planet. The city of Brownsville is accordingly associated with a new name: Gateway to Mars. “The market has become attractive literally overnight. One tweet changed everything,” said Laurie Howell, a real estate agent.
Throughout the Cameron County area, Elon Musk’s influence is extremely profound. Many new businesses that have sprung up have cosmic names, such as “Rocket Launcher” or “Moon Rock.” Aerospace-related companies such as flying car company Paragon VTOL, Space Channel and venture capital firm Spaced Ventures also began moving to the area.
People’s lives changed after Elon Musk appeared
Musk’s portraits and pictures of rockets appear everywhere, even on the SpaceX burger. According to Juan Chavez, director of career and technical education programs for Brownsville schools, the city’s children’s education is also being adjusted, directing them to a more general view of spacecraft and vehicles. electricity and solar energy, thereby training “skilled human resources” for Musk’s companies.
This makes a part of the local people very happy. They believe that they will have more attractive job opportunities instead of just “burying themselves” in agriculture like before. “We never really had anything other than the Port of Brownsville and agriculture. If you don’t choose those two things, you will have to leave somewhere else,” said Christian Zanca, 27 years old.
According to: WSJ, Bloomberg
