“In executing its Starship testing, launching, and landing operations, SpaceX has repeatedly subjected the surrounding areas to extraordinary amounts of acoustic energy including noise, vibrations, and sonic booms,” the lawsuit said.
SpaceX, the sole defendant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorneys for the Texas residents, whose homes are in the area surrounding SpaceX’s Starbase in Cameron County, Texas, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
SpaceX has spent years transforming the South Texas coastal site into a sprawling industrial complex. The Starbase facility was designed to support high-volume rocket production. SpaceX, at a valuation of $1.75 trillion, is preparing for an initial public offering.The lawsuit said Starship generates over 16 million pounds of thrust, an amount nearly twice that of NASA’s modern Space Launch System. SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket are designed to be a fully reusable transportation system. Both stand at about 400 feet tall.
The complaint alleges SpaceX failed to adequately study the flights’ impact on surrounding residences and continued launches despite a likelihood of property damage. The lawsuit also says SpaceX has known about the risks but has moved ahead with “conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others, including plaintiffs.”
The case is Jazmin Aguilar et al v. Space Exploration Technologies, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, No. 1:26-cv-00485.
For plaintiffs: Benigno Martinez of Martinez & Tijerina; Francisco Guerra IV of Guerra; Richard Paul III of Paul; and Cristobal Galindo
For defendant: No appearance yet
