USA TODAY NETWORK SpaceX's 400-foot-tall Starship unexpectedly exploded while the company was preparing for an upcoming flight test from South Texas. About a week later, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced she is considering taking legal action against SpaceX over potential environmental damage across the border. SpaceX has claimed on its website that the Starship explosion posed "no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks" to the surrounding inhabited areas. Billionaire Elon Musk's aggressive approach in developing SpaceX's massive Starship rocket from South Texas has led to spectacular fiery explosions time after time after time. Now, it seems the United States’ neighbors south of the border are reaching the end of their patience. During a recent news conference, Mexico's president indicated that a lawsuit could be forthcoming if investigators determine that Musk's spaceflight company has contributed to undue pollution and marine life die-off in the country. The announcement comes after SpaceX's Starship, which the company is developing for human spaceflight, exploded in a fiery blaze earlier in June. The mishap occurred as the giant spacecraft was being prepared for an engine test ahead of its next launch. While no one was injured, the explosion did cause debris to fall in the area of SpaceX's test site in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. Here's what to know about SpaceX's Starship, including the recent explosion and Mexico's ensuing legal threats. Why did SpaceX Starship rocket explode? On June 18, Starship unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing for an upcoming flight test. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred as the Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the rocket booster. The mishap, which SpaceX later referred to on its website as "a sudden energetic event," completely destroyed the spacecraft and ignited several fires that caused damage in the area surrounding the test stand. While SpaceX is investigating the mishap, Musk said in a post on X that preliminary data suggested that a pressurized tank failed at the top of the rocket. Why is Mexico threatening to sue SpaceX? About a week later, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced she is considering taking legal action against SpaceX. “We are reviewing everything related to the launching of rockets that are very close to our border,” Sheinbaum said at a news conference on Wednesday, June 25, as reported by multiple outlets, including the New York Times and Al Jazeera. The announcement comes as Mexican officials are conducting a review of potential environmental damage in the Mexican state of Tamaulipa after debris from the exploding spacecraft rained down on its beaches. If SpaceX violated any international laws, “we will file any necessary claims,” Sheinbaum said. The governor of Tamaulipas, Américo Villarreal Anaya, said authorities were examining whether “the internationally required distances are being respected in order to have these types of facilities, so that there is no risk to urban centers,” according to reporting from the Times. SpaceX: 'No hazards to the surrounding area' SpaceX claimed on its website that the Starship explosion posed "no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks" to the surrounding inhabited areas. The assertion is one the company reiterated on social media site X when news broke of Sheinbaum's comments. "As previously stated, there are no hazards to the surrounding area," SpaceX wrote in a June 26 post. "And as is the case before any test, a safety zone was established around the test site and was maintained throughout the operation." SpaceX also blamed trespassers for hindering recovery teams' efforts to retrieve debris. What is Starbase? The explosion occurred while SpaceX was prepping Starship for its next launch from the company's Starbase headquarters, located about 23 miles from Brownsville and about 180 miles south of Corpus Christi.