A federal agency has paused some of SpaceX's plans amid concerns over the environment.

SpaceX is set to acquire public land from Texas after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a land-swapping deal that would cede 43 acres to entrepreneur Elon Musk's company in exchange for 477 acres that are yet to be bought.

SpaceX is aiming for another test flight of its mega rocket on Friday after getting the final OK from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Federal Aviation Administration says SpaceX must take a series of steps before it can launch its mega rocket again.

Environmental groups claim the Federal Aviation Administration let SpaceX do its own environmental assessment before its rocket self-destructed above the Texas coast and debris rained down over a wide area.

In a story published May 1, 2023, about a lawsuit filed after a SpaceX megarocket launch from South Texas, The Associated Press gave the wrong metric conversion for how far debris spread.

Five environmental and cultural heritage groups are suing the Federal Aviation Administration over the agency’s dealings with SpaceX.

SpaceX has called off the first launch attempt of its giant rocket.

SpaceX has called off the first launch attempt of its giant rocket.

SpaceX has cleared the final hurdle for launching its new giant Starship from Texas as early as next week on a first test flight.

SpaceX is a big step closer to sending its giant Starship spacecraft into orbit, completing an engine-firing test at the launch pad.

SpaceX has finally launched and successfully landed its futuristic Starship.

BOCHA CHICA, Texas – SpaceX chalked up another failed landing Tuesday for its futuristic, bullet-shaped Starship, as the prototype Mars rocket broke apart right before touchdown. A camera on the rocket froze not quite six minutes into the test flight, and dense fog in South Texas obscured views of the ruptured rocket. This was the fourth full-scale stainless steel model to launch since December to an altitude of more than 6 miles (10 kilometers). “Another exciting test, as we say,” SpaceX launch commentator John Insprucker said as he concluded the webcast. Final view of SN11 in the air:➡️https://t.co/Q2p3q1HS0i pic.twitter.com/PNJta9svkA — Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) March 30, 2021SpaceX plans to use Starship to send astronauts and cargo to the moon and, ultimately, Mars.

In this image from video made available by SpaceX, one of the company's Starship prototypes fires its thrusters as it lands during a test in Boca Chica, Texas, on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Two previous test flights crash-landed in fireballs. The shiny bullet-shaped rocketship remained intact this time at touchdown, prompting SpaceX commentator John Insprucker to declare, “third time’s a charm as the saying goes” before SpaceX ended its webcast of the test. One day, the true measure of success will be that Starship flights are commonplace.”Musk plans to use Starships to send people to the moon and Mars. Each of these last three test flights lasted 6 1/2 minutes.

HOUSTON – SpaceX’s prototype Starship SN 10 rocket launched successfully Wednesday during a test flight but exploded moments after a soft landing. So.... congrats and also RIP 🤷‍♂️😂 bye bye SN10, congrats on making history!!!! @spacex @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/FkDTa9ISRi — Everyday Astronaut (@Erdayastronaut) March 3, 2021The starship lifted off from SpaceX’s launch pad in Boca Chica, TX at approximately 5:13 p.m. The rocket flew to an altitude of about 10 kilometers before returning and completing a soft landing. Moments after touching down on the landing pad, the rocket burst into flames.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – SpaceX’s Starship SN 9 exploded Tuesday while landing during a test flight at the company’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas. Despite the spectacular end, SpaceX said it considers the test to be a success because of the data that they were able to collect. “So all told, another great (flight) and a reminder: this is a test flight, the second time we’ve launched Starship in this configuration,” Insprucker said. Starship SN 10 sits on another pad in Boca Chica awaiting its maiden flight. You can watch a replay of the test flight below:

SpaceX’s high-altitude test flight for its prototype Starship SN8 ended in an explosion Wednesday as the spacecraft attempted to land in Boca Chica. It was the first test of its kind for the Starship, running all three raptor engines in an attempt to reach a height of more than 41,000 feet. The prototype came in for a landing at an angle before exploded at what appeared to be touchdown. “Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Successful ascent, switchover to header tanks & precise flap control to landing point!

In this screen grab from video posted by SpaceX, the company's Starship launches for a test flight, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, in a remote area of Texas. (SpaceX via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX launched its shiny, bullet-shaped, straight-out-of-science fiction Starship several miles into the air from a remote corner of Texas on Wednesday, but the 6 1/2-minute test flight ended in an explosive fireball at touchdown. The full-scale, stainless steel model — 160 feet (50 meters) tall and 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter — soared out over the Gulf of Mexico. The entire flight — as dramatic and flashy as it gets, even by SpaceX standards — lasted six minutes and 42 seconds. “Anybody who knows how hard this stuff is is impressed by today’s Starship test.”Two lower, shorter SpaceX test flights earlier this year from Boca Chica, Texas — a quiet coastal village before SpaceX moved in — used more rudimentary versions of Starship.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – Space fans will just have to wait another day after SpaceX aborted its first attempt at a high-altitude test flight for its SN8 Starship Prototype in Boca Chica on Tuesday. Starship SN8 is expected to fly more than 41,000 feet into the air, do a now-iconic bellyflop or skydiving-like maneuver and then correct itself just before landing on the launchpad. The spacecraft is a two-stage vehicle that founder Elon Musk hopes will one day take as many as 100 people to Mars. It’s the first Starship to be fully outfitted with a nosecone and flaps. You can watch a replay of the first attempt below.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – Another week of waiting in Boca Chica as the SpaceX’s Starship SN8 prototype sits on the launchpad for more than two months now, which is the longest amount of time for any Starship prototype. SpaceX confirmed it will attempt to launch its Starship prototype for its first high-altitude flight Tuesday. Starship is the two-stage vehicle system that founder Elon Musk hopes will one day take as many as 100 people to Mars. South Texas is at the center of it all with the Starship manufacturing and launch facility right there in Boca Chica. Many people will head to Isla Blanca Park in South Padre Island to watch the Starship SN8 launch.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The shores at Isla Blanca Park are expected to be the place where hundreds of space enthusiasts and islanders go to watch a test launch across the water at SpaceX’s Starship facility in Boca Chica, Texas. With the Starship SN8 launch teasingly imminent, South Padre Island has found a lot more tourists walking the streets. The view of the SpaceX launch facility just a few miles across the water. “Everybody wants to see it happening,” said James Baxter, a Houston native and South Padre Island transplant. I was so excited!”They don’t think they will leave South Padre Island.

Doug Kinne and his wife, Anna Kinne, are the second generation of Kinnes to retire at their seaside cottage in a quaint, fishing town. “Being that we are five miles away, you’ll see the flash and then you hear it in about four or five seconds,” Doug Kinne said. “Baby Boom, Mama Boom and Papa Boom Bay!” Anna Kinne laughed. “I was like ‘Okay, this is just getting better!’” Doug Kinne said. “This energy has brought all that back and more,” Doug Kinne said.

One look at Boca Chica Beach and one cannot miss the large steel Starship mounted on a launchpad as well as seemingly non-stop construction. One long road leads straight to the Gulf of Mexico, Boca Chica Beach. On Boca Chica land, the Battle of Palmito Ranch was fought. Several Civil War historical markers line Boca Chica Boulevard. Boca Chica is also a known estuary of the Rio Grande Valley, a bird migration route and a place where turtles find respite, crabs and cacti too.

One Houstonian experienced this first-hand and turned his own vision into reality -- creating the ultimate space pad Airbnb for many space enthusiasts to rent. However, 400 miles away in the rugged terrain of Boca Chica, just 8 miles from the SpaceX Launch Facility, he’s managed to create the ultimate space lover’s experience, Rocket Ranch. The multi-room ranch has a full-kitchen, coffeeroom area, living room and outside amenities, filled with decor space enthusiasts would appreciate. Photos of different planets, milestone space exploration achievements and touches of trivial space gadgets fill the space. This all started when he went to see a SpaceX launch at the Cape.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – The remote village of Boca Chica is a place nature has called home. One Starship prototype, Serial Number 8 (SN8) is expected to make a nearly 50,000-foot flight this week--what would be the furthest flight of all Starship prototypes. “I can’t wait to go and see this,” Ray Wysocki, a SpaceX Starship fan who drove his Tesla from Philadelphia. Boca Chica has a rapidly developing private spaceport where the Starship spacecraft will launch. Now, all eyes are on the SN8, which is currently mounted on the launchpad at the Boca Chica facility.

BOCA CHICA – SpaceX successfully completed its highly-anticipated Starship SN5 prototype’s 150-meter hop test at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility Tuesday. Workers continue to build and test Starship prototypes, a spacecraft designed for long-term spaceflight. After the Starship SN5 prototype cleared a major test Thursday, the static fire. All have been waiting to see what would be a truly remarkable hop test. In Monday evening’s attempt, SpaceX founder and Chief Engineer, Elon Musk, said a Raptor engine spin-valve was to blame.

BOCA CHICA, Texas – Boca Chica is a village that was once known for its nature and quiet. When SpaceX came to town, the village transformed into a rapidly developing spaceport poised to launch humans further than they have ever gone. Neighbors say this little village will never be the same.

For now, workers continue to build and test Starship prototypes. The SN5 prototype has passed previous major tests, including a static fire which, after several attempts, successfully completed Thursday, giving the green light for the next major test, the 150m hop. Sometime Tuesday, this Boca Chica community expects to see the Starship vehicle “hop” for the very first time. If successful, a successful SN5 Starship prototype hop would be a landmark first for SpaceX. In August of 2019, SpaceX successfully did this same test with a mini version of Starship called “Starhopper.” Then the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, tweeted “Water towers can fly!”