SpaceX bought some water rights from the Rio Grande River. Here’s what we know.
The Rio Grande flows between Texas and Tamaulipas near Nuevo Progreso, serving as the primary water source for much of South Texas. Photo Credit | Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza

Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has an ambitious vision to launch reusable rockets into outer space carrying humans, not just satellites, someday. 

But to accomplish those lofty goals, rocket manufacturer SpaceX needs water for many different purposes, from cooling mechanisms to municipal use for the city of Starbase. 

South Texas communities and businesses rely on the Rio Grande for most of the water used by agricultural, industrial, commercial, and residential customers. 


SpaceX purchased its own slice of the Rio Grande River directly, known as water rights, according to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality records reviewed by the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal. 

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