SpaceX’s Starbase injury rates significantly higher than industry average

SpaceX’s Starbase facility, a key site for the company’s Starship program, has injury rates significantly higher than other similar space vehicle manufacturing facilities. In 2024, Starbase recorded a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 4.27 injuries per 100 workers, nearly six times higher than the industry average. This rate is not a new issue—Starbase has had high injury rates since 2019. The facility, crucial for SpaceX’s ambitious goal of sending humans to Mars, also handles the testing and manufacturing of the Starship rocket, which is at the heart of SpaceX’s future missions. Although the injury rates have shown slight improvement, they are still far above industry standards. The company has faced several safety incidents, including severe accidents such as amputations and a crane collapse in 2025. NASA, which is heavily invested in the Starship program, is keeping a close watch on safety measures, but high injury rates have not yet led to significant regulatory actions. Despite the injuries, Starbase remains crucial to SpaceX’s goal of enabling human life on Mars. However, experts are calling for improvements in safety protocols to ensure better worker conditions at the facility.