Endangered turtles share this Mexican beach with SpaceX rocket debris. The company says there’s no risk of harm

Debris from recent SpaceX launches continues to wash up on Bagdad Beach in northern Tamaulipas, Mexico home to the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. The waste includes melted plastics, aluminum scraps, steel pipes, and pieces of blue adhesive. All of it litters the area near the Gulf of Mexico, just across the border from SpaceX’s Starbase launch site in Texas.

Since late 2024, Conibio Global, a small Mexican NGO, has tried to clean up the mess left behind. The group says it’s spent over $26,000 on labor, fuel, and materials. “In half a kilometer out of the 40 kilometers of shoreline, we already collected one ton [of trash],” said Jesús Elías Ibarra, the group’s founder, to CNN. “We are a very small group. It’s impossible to clean everything.”

After a May 2025 rocket launch, Ibarra said the NGO collected over a ton of debris across just 500 meters of coastline. He believes millions of small particles spread across the beach. “Some of it could be eaten by turtles,” he warned. Ibarra also runs Conibio’s Marine Turtle Program.

The organization handed the collected waste to PROFEPA, Mexico’s environmental protection agency. In late June, government officials and navy personnel joined the effort, recovering a 4-meter-long tank and a 5-kilogram stainless steel pipe.

SpaceX responded to CNN inquiries by pointing to a June 26 statement on X. The company said it offered cleanup support and sought help from both local and federal Mexican authorities. It also emphasized that debris from its launches poses no chemical, biological, or toxic risk, citing internal tests.

SpaceX added that it retains ownership of the debris under the Outer Space Treaty and claims that cleanup efforts have been obstructed by trespassers. CNN has asked the company to clarify what private property it referenced in its post.

Despite SpaceX’s claims of cooperation, Ibarra said Conibio has not had any direct contact with the company. He also alleged that SpaceX drones harassed his team while they worked. CNN has asked the company to respond to these claims.

Environmental experts urge caution. Marlon Sorge of The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies told CNN that handling space debris without proper training is dangerous. “Although a lot of debris is not hazardous, spaceflight-related vehicles can contain hazardous chemicals and materials,” he said.

Some materials found include sponge-like plastics, rubbery foam, aluminum fragments with SpaceX labels, plastic bubble wrap, and steel tubing. According to Ibarra, the debris may also compact turtle nests, preventing hatchlings from emerging. He claims at least 300 baby turtles have died due to the compacted sand caused by rocket vibrations.

There are concerns beyond wildlife. Ibarra said falling debris and shockwaves from recent launches damaged trees and even homes near the Mexico-Texas border. “The entire edge of the Rio Bravo burned after the last explosion,” he said. “In nearby cities, people reported minor structural damage from the rocket vibrations.”

On June 19, another SpaceX rocket exploded during launch. The following morning, new debris was found in Mexican territory. This led to renewed collaboration with Mexican officials, Ibarra said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the issue in a press briefing on June 25. She confirmed environmental damage and said the government will examine the impact of rocket launches. She also mentioned possible legal action under international law.

SpaceX’s environmental commitment is stated clearly on its website. It claims to minimize impact and collaborate with U.S. agencies and the Texas government. But Ibarra said the real situation on Bagdad Beach paints a different picture.

“The debris is still there,” he said. “It’s no longer as visible because the tides are burying it. But it’s there, and it has to be removed sooner or later.”

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