Musk wants Starbase recognised as official address
January 18, 2024
By Chris Forrester
SpaceX’s Brownsville, Texas rocket launch site, known as Starbase, is making an official request to see Starbase recognised as the correct name for the location. SpaceX is also about to be granted permission to significantly expand its facilities at the Starbase.
A filing is being made by the Spaceport Development Corporation to officials at Cameron County, Texas, today [January 18th] to “approve a resolution in support of a US postal services mailing name designation for Starbase as an official place name”.
The aim, says the request, is for Starbase to be the core for a new Economic Development area and perhaps to benefit from Texas financial incentives.
Also aligned with the request is a scheme to ‘swap’ SpaceX-owned land for a much larger tract of near-adjacent land to allow for the Spaceport’s expansion.
The scheme has the full support of the Texas Parks & Wildliife Department (TPWD) and would see SpaceX “expand its operational footprint around its launch facilities at Boca Chica and has requested the transfer of 43 acres from Boca Chica State Park in exchange for 477 acres near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Reserve to TPWD.”
“This acquisition will provide increased public recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, water recreation, and wildlife viewing, and allow for greater conservation of sensitive habitats for wintering and migratory birds,” adds TPWD.
The transfer becomes effective on January 25th.