US court approves SpaceX land swap deal in Texas wildlife refuge

A federal judge has declined to block a contentious land exchange between SpaceX and the U.S. government that grants the rocket manufacturer access to more than 700 acres within a Texas wildlife refuge. The ruling allows the company to proceed with acquiring the additional acreage while ceding 683 acres of its own holdings in exchange.

Environmental advocacy groups and Native American tribal representatives had mounted legal challenges against the deal, expressing concerns about ecological impacts, cultural preservation and historical significance of the refuge land. However, the judge determined that the plaintiffs had failed to present sufficient evidence demonstrating potential environmental or cultural harm from the proposed transaction.

The land swap is expected to support SpaceX's operational expansion in South Texas, where the company maintains its Starship development and testing facilities. The exchange has drawn scrutiny from conservation organizations and indigenous groups who argue the protected refuge represents irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.