SpaceX Recovery Delayed as Mexico Weighs Legal Action Over Starship Explosion

SpaceX has announced that its efforts to recover debris from last week’s Starship rocket explosion are facing major setbacks due to unauthorized activity in the impacted area. The company has formally sought assistance from Mexican authorities as concerns grow over both environmental impact and international law violations.

The incident occurred during a test launch from SpaceX’s facility in Texas, where the Starship spacecraft—a prototype designed for deep-space missions—suffered a catastrophic failure. Witnesses reported multiple explosions lighting up the sky as debris was ejected across a wide area.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX confirmed, “Despite SpaceX’s attempts to recover the anomaly-related debris, which is and remains the tangible property of SpaceX, these attempts have been hindered by unauthorized parties trespassing on private property.” The company emphasized that recovery is critical, not only to assess damage but to advance the vehicle’s safety for future missions.

To mitigate these obstacles, SpaceX has requested cooperation from both local and federal agencies in Mexico, where some debris may have landed. The company stated it is ready to provide on-ground support and technical assistance during cleanup and retrieval operations.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed growing concern over the environmental and security risks associated with rocket launches near Mexican territory. Speaking during a press briefing, she acknowledged that contamination had occurred and that a legal and regulatory review is underway.

Sheinbaum indicated that the investigation will explore potential violations of international environmental laws and safety standards, particularly affecting the northern state of Tamaulipas, which borders the SpaceX launch zone.

This latest incident adds to a growing list of setbacks for Elon Musk’s Mars-bound ambitions. Previous Starship test flights also ended in explosions, including a case in January where falling debris reached the Turks and Caicos Islands, causing minor damage on the ground.