A group of 80 plaintiffs from South Texas has initiated legal action against SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. They claim that the company’s rocket testing operations have resulted in significant sonic booms that have repeatedly damaged their homes over a span of two years.
The lawsuit, which was submitted to the U.S. Southern District of Texas Court, accuses SpaceX of gross negligence and trespassing due to the disruptive noise generated by 11 rocket tests conducted between April 2023 and October 2025. The plaintiffs argue that the company’s use of large, two-stage rockets—each reaching heights of 400 feet and designed to land post-launch—has subjected nearby residents to extended periods of damaging sound.
Notably, during the initial launch of the Starship rocket in 2023, the powerful 33-engine booster not only destroyed the launch pad but also propelled debris up to three-quarters of a mile away, demonstrating the rocket’s potential for destruction, according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial to obtain compensation for damages, attorney fees, and court costs from SpaceX. Their properties include 53 homes located in Laguna Vista, Port Isabel, and South Padre Island, with several couples sharing residences.
While the lawsuit does not detail the specific damages incurred by the homes due to the sonic booms, it does assert that such loud blasts can lead to harm to walls, windows, and roofs.
As of now, neither SpaceX nor Benigno Martinez, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, has commented on the legal matter. SpaceX has yet to respond formally to the lawsuit in court, and no hearings regarding the case have been scheduled.
SpaceX has significantly expanded its operations in the South Texas area, increasing the frequency of its rocket launches. The company played a role in establishing the new city of Starbase in May 2025 and was reportedly negotiating with the Trump administration in December to exchange land for 775 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
In 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration granted SpaceX authorization to conduct rocket launches up to 25 times annually, which is five times the number previously permitted. These launches necessitate the closure of an adjacent 8-mile stretch of beach. The company is also currently embroiled in a separate lawsuit regarding the frequency of these beach closures, with oral arguments presented to the Texas Supreme Court in March.
