SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk announced today that he is moving his companies’ headquarters from California to Texas.
SpaceX was originally founded in 2002 by Musk with a goal to reduce the cost of space transportation via reusable spacecraft. It has since evolved into a multibillion dollar business that has evolved into a company that provides launch services for NASA, the US government, military, and commercial companies. The company also operates Starlink, offering internet globally via a constellation of small satellites.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024
Why is Musk Moving SpaceX to Texas?
In a post on X today, Musk said that “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”
This is the final straw.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024
Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas. https://t.co/cpWUDgBWFe
Musk is referring to California’s new law AB1955 which addresses the topic of LGBT youth. Most controversial for Musk, part of the bill prevents public schools from making rules that require them to notify a parent if a child identifies as transgender. In a follow up message, Musk added, “I did make it clear to Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children.”
Musk stated that he will also move X headquarters to Austin, Texas in response to the bill becoming law..
Where is Starbase, Texas?
Starbase, Texas is located in South Texas near the Texas/Mexico border, just outside of Brownsville. It is home to one of SpaceX’s large launch facility. The site has so far launched four Starship test vehicles with additional launches planned later this year. Starship is a massive spacecraft. At nearly 400 ft tall. the vehicle is powered by 33 of the company’s Raptor engines that generate 17 million pounds of thrust at launch.
This is not the first time that Musk has moved one of his companies headquarters. He previously moved Tesla from Freemont, California to Austin, Texas. He later moved his engineering headquarters back to Palo Alto, California in an effort to recruit additional engineering talent.
