"The circumstances of the death are not immediately clear."
Worker Dies at SpaceX Starbase; OSHA Investigates
A worker died at SpaceX's Starbase launch facility in South Texas on May 15, 2025, at approximately 4:17 a.m. local time. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into the incident.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released, and authorities have provided few details regarding the events leading to the death. In a statement to TechCrunch, OSHA confirmed it is investigating the apparent accident, but noted it will not release further information until its probe is complete—a process that may take several months.
The Brownsville Police and Fire Departments, SpaceX, and the city of Starbase did not respond to requests for comment.
A Troubled Safety Record
SpaceX's Starbase site has a documented history of worker safety issues. A 2025 analysis of OSHA data by TechCrunch found the facility's injury rate is higher than industry rivals, marking it as SpaceX’s most dangerous worksite.
In January 2025, OSHA issued seven "serious" safety violations to SpaceX related to a crane collapse at Starbase in June 2024. The fines totaled $115,850, though SpaceX is currently contesting the penalties.
The site has also faced multiple injury-related lawsuits. In December 2024, a subcontractor's employee was injured when a metal support fell from a crane. While OSHA closed its rapid response investigation without action, the subsequent lawsuit was ultimately dropped due to workers' compensation insurance coverage.