Mexican environmental group mobilizes at Playa Bagdad as SpaceX readies Starship launch

MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas — Environmental organization Conibio Global announced it will increase marine wildlife monitoring and hold a peaceful demonstration at Playa Bagdad during SpaceX’s upcoming Starship test flight scheduled for this week. 

The group said its objective is to document the possible arrival of vehicle debris — described by the organization as space debris — and any potential impacts on the marine ecosystem.

The mission is Flight 13, the thirteenth integrated test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy launch system from Starbase, Texas. On its official mission page, SpaceX announced the launch is scheduled for Thursday with a launch window from 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., although the schedule remains subject to change.

Conibio Global President Elías Ibarra said organization members will conduct shoreline patrols before, during, and after the launch to locate marine animals that may have been injured, as well as identify and collect any debris that reaches the coast.

“We are looking for injured or harmed sea turtles, dolphins and manatees, not only because of what we describe as space debris, but also due to maritime traffic,” Ibarra said. “On launch days, we conduct constant beach patrols to determine whether debris reaches Playa Bagdad.”

The activist said the organization will also hold another peaceful demonstration at the mouth of the Rio Grande, where it has previously maintained a presence during Starship launch windows.

In a video posted on Conibio Global’s social media platforms, Ibarra said the organization seeks to raise awareness about what it considers the potential environmental effects of spaceflight operations along the Tamaulipas coastline and called on supporters to place Mexican flags at the mouth of the river during the demonstration.

“It will be a decisive day for our conservation project, to continue protecting marine species, and to seek justice for Mexican territory,” he said.

Ibarra added that Conibio Global has documented the death of two dolphins and several sea turtles following previous Starship test flights. However, he acknowledged that the advanced state of their decomposition has prevented authorities from officially determining their causes of death.

“The objective is to identify marine wildlife found dead after the launch and send the specimens for veterinary pathology so they can be thoroughly analyzed to determine whether there are signs they were burned, whether sonic explosions caused their deaths, or whether they ingested what we describe as space debris,” he said.

The group has previously recovered debris along the coastline with the help of volunteers and several Mexican federal agencies, including Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and Civil Protection.

“We collect the debris directly. It is bagged and placed in specialized containers, but a complete cleanup is impossible because we have only 15 technicians,” Ibarra said. “We primarily remove the largest pieces, including propulsion tanks, plastics and sections of tubing.”

He added that the recovered material is turned over to the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) for safekeeping.

Ibarra also said videos posted by residents in South Texas show damage to homes during some launches and added that, to his knowledge, Mexican federal authorities are conducting measurements related to noise generated by sonic booms.

Conibio Global said it will continue publishing the results of its monitoring efforts and activities carried out during the launch through its digital platforms.