Elon Musk's SpaceX is facing another worker tragedy. A worker died at the company's Starbase launch site in South Texas on May 15, with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) now launching a full investigation.
The unidentified victim died around 4:17 a.m. local time, according to reports from the San Antonio Express-News and confirmed by county sheriff's office. Circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear. OSHA said it will not release information until the investigation concludes, which could take months.
The timing compounds the situation. The death comes days before SpaceX's planned first launch of its upgraded Starship rocket and as Musk's company releases its IPO prospectus this week. The public offering is expected to be the largest ever when it closes next month.
This is not SpaceX's first worker safety incident at Starbase. The Texas facility has a documented injury rate that far exceeds industry competitors, according to TechCrunch's 2025 analysis of OSHA data. It is the most dangerous of all SpaceX worksites.
In January, OSHA cited SpaceX with seven serious safety violations following a crane collapse at Starbase in June. The agency imposed maximum penalties on six of those violations, totaling $115,850. SpaceX is contesting the fines.
Lawsuits have also mounted. In December, subcontractor employee Eduardo Cavazos sued after being crushed by a metal support that dropped from a crane, suffering broken bones in his hip, knee, and tibia. That lawsuit was later dropped due to workers' compensation insurance restrictions, and OSHA's rapid response investigation closed without punitive action.
A 2023 Reuters investigation also uncovered dozens of previously unreported injuries and a worker death dating to 2014 at SpaceX's McGregor test site.
Neither SpaceX nor the newly incorporated City of Starbase responded to requests for comment.
