Worker Dies at SpaceX's Starbase Ahead of Starship V3 Megarocket Launch
Summary: A worker died at SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas early Friday (May 15), as the company was preparing for the debut launch of its Starship V3 megarocket. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident. This marks the latest in a series of safety concerns at SpaceX's busy Starbase facility.
Incident Details
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the death occurred around 4 a.m. local time on Friday at SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, identified the deceased as an employee of a contractor who died after a fall. Local officials have not identified the individual or provided further details. OSHA has opened an investigation into the incident.
SpaceX has not publicly commented on the death as of publication.
Starship V3 Launch Delayed — Again
Starship V3 (Version 3) was originally scheduled to launch on May 19, but SpaceX has pushed the debut flight back twice in recent days, most recently to Thursday evening (May 21). The company has not stated a reason for the delays, nor has it addressed the fatality publicly.
Starship V3 stands over 122 meters (400 feet) tall, making it the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. Thursday's flight would be the 12th integrated Starship test flight overall, and the first featuring the Version 3 design.
Starbase Safety Record Under Scrutiny
TechCrunch, analyzing OSHA data in 2025, reported that Starbase had the highest worker-injury rate of any SpaceX manufacturing or test facility — outsizing the industry average by a significant margin. In 2024, Starbase logged injury rates nearly 6 times higher than the average for comparable space vehicle manufacturing operations and nearly 3 times higher than the broader aerospace manufacturing sector. This pattern has persisted since SpaceX began sharing Starbase injury data with OSHA in 2019.
SpaceX also faces an existing worker safety lawsuit: a truck driver alleges he was injured by liquid methane while delivering rocket propellant to SpaceX's McGregor test site near Waco, Texas, in June 2024.
Additionally, more than 50 residents living near Starbase recently filed a federal lawsuit claiming Starship launches have damaged their homes.