Elon Musk has established Starbase City in South Texas, near the Mexican border, as the operational hub for SpaceX's Mars ambitions. This privately developed city, marked by a statue of Musk and the slogan "Ad Astra," is where the company manufactures and launches its massive, reusable rockets, including the 121-meter-tall Starship designed for interplanetary travel. However, the frequent, powerful rocket tests cause significant disturbances for local residents, with vibrations shaking homes, cracking foundations, and damaging property. Access to public areas like a local beach has also been restricted by SpaceX, leading to frustration and a sense of displacement among long-time inhabitants. The article also highlights safety concerns due to rocket test failures, with debris occasionally found miles away, even across the border in Mexico.