SpaceX Faces Higher Worker Injury Rates at Starbase Compared to Industry Averages

SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas has reported injury rates that are significantly higher than the industry average for space and aerospace manufacturing. The 2024 Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) at Starbase was nearly six times higher than that of comparable space vehicle-manufacturing companies and almost three times higher than the aerospace manufacturing average. The high injury rate has been persistent since 2019 and reflects the rapid pace at which SpaceX is operating, particularly with its ambitious Starship program. While injury statistics don’t tell the full story of the site’s safety culture, they offer a glimpse into working conditions at the company’s largest launch and manufacturing facility. The 2024 TRIR for Starbase stood at 4.27 injuries per 100 workers, which is an improvement from previous years but still concerning compared to the 2023 aerospace industry average of 0.7 injuries per 100 workers. This rate surpasses that of other SpaceX facilities, including its McGregor and Hawthorne sites. Despite improvements, safety professionals have raised red flags about the persistently high injury rate, calling for urgent safety improvements. NASA, a major partner of SpaceX, has stated that it remains in frequent contact with the company to ensure safety in all of its missions, particularly those involving human space travel. SpaceX did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment on the issue.