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Published TUESDAY April 14, 2026: 'STARBASE: Lone Star States Newest City' Photography by ZUMA Partner newspaper The San Antonio Exoress-News award winning photo-journalist's: Starbase is a Texas city that serves as SpaceX's headquarters and launch site for its Starship program. Home to nearly 500 people, mostly SpaceX employees, the city plans major expansions but faces criticism over environmental impacts and corporate control of local governance. The 1.5-square-mile municipality includes a rocket launch site, manufacturing facilities and homes for SpaceX employees. Starbase officially became a city in May 2025. Now, plans are underway to expand it into a full-fledged company town, with additional housing, shops and restaurants to accommodate more workers. As the company prepares to go public later this year, reportedly valued at $1.5 trillion, SpaceX expects to raise $50 billion in its initial public offering, which would be the largest ever. However SpaceX also is facing more pressure to meet timelines under NASA's Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon, but is running years behind schedule. Welcome to 'STARBASE: Lone Star States Newest City'
© zReportage.com Issue #1036 Story of the Week: Published TUESDAY April 14, 2026: 'STARBASE: Lone Star States Newest City' Photography by ZUMA Partner newspaper The San Antonio Exoress-News award winning photo-journalist's: Starbase is a Texas city that serves as SpaceX's headquarters and launch site for its Starship program. Home to nearly 500 people, mostly SpaceX employees, the city plans major expansions but faces criticism over environmental impacts and corporate control of local governance. The 1.5-square-mile municipality includes a rocket launch site, manufacturing facilities and homes for SpaceX employees. Starbase officially became a city in May 2025. Now, plans are underway to expand it into a full-fledged company town, with additional housing, shops and restaurants to accommodate more workers. As the company prepares to go public later this year, reportedly valued at $1.5 trillion, SpaceX expects to raise $50 billion in its initial public offering, which would be the largest ever. However SpaceX also is facing more pressure to meet timelines under NASA's Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon, but is running years behind schedule. Welcome to 'STARBASE: Lone Star States Newest City'

Sam Owens

SAM OWENS is a staff photographer for the San Antonio Express-News. Owen's served as the Midwest Regional Chair for the National Press Photographers Association and the contest chairwoman for the Indiana News Photographers Association's annual Photographer of the Year competition. Sam is a graduate of Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, where she earned a B.S. in Visual Communication and a specialization in Anthropology. Sams images are available through ZUMA Press.:1036

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