• South Texas residents seek compensation over rocket test damage
• Growing dispute over expanded launch operations despite local complaints

Dozens of homeowners in southern Texas have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s SpaceX, accusing the company of gross negligence and trespassing on their property.

Residents say shockwaves from 11 rocket tests conducted between April 2023 and October 2025 caused damage to their homes, including cracked walls, shattered windows, and damaged roofs.

They also pointed to the 2023 Starship launch, which they say destroyed the launch pad and sent debris flying up to about two-thirds of a mile from the site.

The lawsuit, filed by around 80 residents, seeks unspecified financial compensation for property damage, without providing exact figures on individual losses.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has approved SpaceX to increase launches from South Texas to 25 per year in 2025, a significant rise compared to previous years, amid ongoing tensions with local communities over the company’s activities.