As SpaceX fine-tunes its Starship rocket for another test launch, a new obstacle is emerging—the Mexican government. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned potentially using international law to crack down on Elon Musk’s company for creating space debris along the Mexican coast.

SpaceX’s launch facility sits across the border from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Last week, a Starship rocket exploded on the ground during a test, creating debris along the coast, including in Tamaulipas.

In response, Sheinbaum said her government is investigating whether SpaceX has broken any international laws, adding, “There is contamination.” The review will look at both the environmental and security impacts of the Starship tests. Environmental groups in Tamaulipas also allege the SpaceX debris has killed and endangered marine wildlife in the area. 

The name ‘Elon’ is seen on a log near Starbase, Texas, in May. (Photo by SERGIO FLORES/AFP via Getty Images)

The inquiry adds another dimension to Starship’s development. The vehicle promises to upgrade SpaceX’s Starlink network with more powerful satellites capable of gigabit speeds.

However, SpaceX says it’s already working with the Mexican government to clear the debris. “As previously stated, there are no hazards to the surrounding area,” the company tweeted on Thursday. “Previous independent tests conducted on materials inside Starship, including toxicity analyses, confirm they pose no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks.”

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All Starship tests involve establishing a safety zone around the site, the company added. SpaceX also says it’s been trying to recover the debris that scattered across coast, but added: “These attempts have been hindered by unauthorized parties trespassing on private property.”

“We have requested local and federal assistance from the government of Mexico in the recovery of anomaly-related debris, offered resources and assistance in the clean-up, and have sought validation of SpaceX’s right to conduct recovery operations,” the company’s tweet added.

According to the Associated Press, Tamaulipas’s governor has also demanded a study looking at whether SpaceX has complied with international laws in placing its facilities far enough from population centers. Last month’s other failed Starship test, which involved the booster exploding, also reportedly created debris on a Tamaulipas beach.

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About Michael Kan

Senior Reporter

I’ve been working as a journalist for over 15 years—I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017.

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