US judge clears SpaceX’s Starbase expansion into Texas wildlife refuge

​SpaceX has cleared a legal hurdle in its plan to expand its Starbase operations in South Texas. A federal judge rejected a request from conservation and tribal groups to temporarily block a land exchange that would give Elon Musk’s rocket company about 715 acres currently part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In return, SpaceX would transfer about 683 acres of privately owned land to the federal government.​According to a report by The New York Times, the ruling allows the proposed exchange to move forward, clearing a path for SpaceX to use the refuge land for an expanded launch and production site, although opponents have said they will continue their legal challenge.​US federal judge rejects request to block SpaceX land swap​US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. of the Southern District of Texas declined to issue a preliminary injunction sought by conservation and tribal groups.