OSHA Probes Worker Death at SpaceX Starbase Ahead of 1st Upgraded Starship Launch
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · May 18
OSHA Probes Worker Death at SpaceX Starbase Ahead of 1st Upgraded Starship Launch
7 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · May 18
A worker died at SpaceX’s Starbase site around 4:17 a.m. local time on May 15, prompting OSHA to open an investigation into the apparent accident.
OSHA said it will not release more details until the probe is complete, a process that could take months, and the circumstances of the death remain unclear.
The fatality comes days before the first planned launch of SpaceX’s upgraded Starship rocket from the South Texas site.
Starbase has faced repeated safety scrutiny: OSHA in January cited SpaceX for 7 serious violations tied to a 2025 crane collapse and proposed $115,850 in penalties, which the company is contesting.
That history adds to broader concerns about worker safety at Starbase, which TechCrunch previously found had SpaceX’s highest injury rate and has drawn multiple injury lawsuits.
Can SpaceX's massive IPO succeed while its workplace safety record faces scrutiny after another death?
Are regulators letting SpaceX prioritize speed over safety, and what is the ultimate human cost?