A pristine stretch of Mexico’s northern coastline has become an unexpected dumping ground for the aftermath of Elon Musk’s space ambitions.
Bagdad Beach in Tamaulipas, just across the border from SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch site in Texas, is now strewn with melted plastics, aluminium shards, and charred debris following recent rocket launches.
Mexican environmentalists and scientists are raising the alarm over what they say is an ecological ticking time bomb.
Among the worst hit are endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, which rely on the Gulf of Mexico’s coastal regions to nest.
Experts warn that fragments of SpaceX’s wreckage—including spongy rubber-like plastics, steel tubes, and even components branded with the SpaceX logo—could be ingested by the turtles, causing injury or death.
Conibio Global, a small NGO, has been leading the charge to clean up the mess.
Founder Jesús Elías Ibarra said that in just a 500-metre section of beach, his group collected over a ton of SpaceX-related trash. “It’s impossible for our small team to clean the entire 40km shoreline,” he said.
SpaceX insists the debris poses “no chemical, biological, or toxicological risk” and claims it’s working with both US and Mexican authorities on cleanup efforts. The company cites its environmental commitments and agreements with US agencies.
But Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum isn’t convinced. In June, she confirmed her government had found “contamination” and is investigating potential violations of international law. Legal action may follow.
