Mexican President orders review of SpaceX environmental impact

Mohan Sinha
29 Jun 2025, 00:24 GMT+10

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that her government is investigating possible environmental contamination caused by a SpaceX facility near the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas and is considering what action to take
The announcement came after a Starship rocket exploded during a test on June 18, creating a large fireball
Debris—including metal, plastic, and rocket fragments—was reportedly found in Tamaulipas, a northern Mexican state that borders SpaceX’s Starbase launch site

MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that her government is investigating possible environmental contamination caused by a SpaceX facility near the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas and is considering what action to take.

The announcement came after a Starship rocket exploded during a test on June 18, creating a large fireball. Debris—including metal, plastic, and rocket fragments—was reportedly found in Tamaulipas, a northern Mexican state that borders SpaceX's Starbase launch site.

Speaking at her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum said a broad investigation is underway to determine whether international laws have been violated. "There is contamination," she said, adding that the government would decide on its next steps with SpaceX after the review.

SpaceX has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal has called for a study to determine whether SpaceX is following regulations about the placement of such facilities near populated areas. Mexican officials had already confirmed that debris from a failed Starship launch on May 27 had also washed up on a beach in Tamaulipas.

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