A crane collapsed on Tuesday at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, prompting an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The federal agency confirmed that it is examining the incident to determine its cause and assess safety compliance.
The collapse was livestreamed by Lab Padre, a YouTube channel focused on SpaceX, and the footage quickly spread across social media, including X, owned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
Multiple sources, including CNBC and Futurism, indicate that it is not yet clear if anyone was hurt, but as of now, no injuries have been confirmed or reported. SpaceX has not provided additional information regarding any casualties, and OSHA is continuing its investigation into the incident.
SpaceX has faced scrutiny over workplace safety before, with injury rates reportedly higher than industry averages. In 2014, an employee named Simon LeBlanc died on the job, with OSHA finding that the company failed to protect him from a known hazard.
Regulatory oversight has been affected by budget cuts and office closures at OSHA, linked to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative led by Musk during the Trump administration. These changes have limited OSHA’s capacity to enforce safety regulations.
The crane collapse adds to recent challenges for SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy rocket, which has experienced multiple explosions. Environmental groups in the U.S. and Mexico have raised concerns about damage to ecosystems, though SpaceX denies any environmental harm from its tests.
Starship is central to NASA’s Artemis programme and SpaceX holds over $20 billion in government contracts. However, NASA’s proposed budget for the coming year, which funds Starship projects, is still awaiting Congressional approval and could affect future missions.
Musk’s political ties have also influenced SpaceX’s path. He sought to appoint astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA during a potential second Trump term, but the nomination was withdrawn amid disagreements.