Elon Musk has for years made Texas his business home and playground as he launches rockets and builds cars in the Lone Star state.

Elon Musk is close to turning SpaceX's South Texas launch site into a city called Starbase. The plan faces public opposition but is expected to pass with overwhelming employee-resident support.

It has been a rough patch for Mr. Musk, but he is about to realize a dream for SpaceX, its employees and for himself, his own town on the southern tip of Texas.