SPACE X BROWNSVILLE

NEWSPACE
CITY

The space era for Brownsville!

The SpaceX South Texas launch site is located near Boca Chica Beach, approximately 32 km east of Downtown Brownsville (or less than 10 miles from Brownsville City Limits).
When conceptualized, its purpose was "to provide SpaceX an exclusive launch site that would allow the company to accommodate its launch manifest and meet tight launch windows." The launch site was initially intended to support launches of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles and "a variety of reusable suborbital launch vehicles." Still, in 2018, SpaceX announced a change of plans, stating that the launch site would be used exclusively for SpaceX's next-generation launch vehicle, Starship.

BOCA CHICA BEACH

The SpaceX South Texas launch site, also known as Boca Chica launch site, is a private rocket production facility, test site, and spaceport constructed by SpaceX right on the doorstep of Brownsville, Texas.
Find more information on Boca Chica Beach closures and SpaceX launches.
Play Video

SpaceX Brownsville

Starship | SN15

On Wednesday, May 5, the SpaceX team successfully attempted a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 15 (SN15) – our fifth high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype from Starbase in Texas.

SN15 has vehicle improvements across structures, avionics, software, and engines that will allow more speed and efficiency throughout production and flight: specifically, a newly enhanced avionics suite, updated propellant architecture in the aft skirt, and a new Raptor engine design and configuration.

SpaceX Brownsville

Starship | SN11

Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests of Starship, SN11 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence before the vehicle reaches approximately 10 km in altitude. SN11 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and controlled aerodynamic descent.

Play Video

SpaceX Brownsville

Starship | SN10

On Wednesday, March 3, Starship serial number (SN10) completed SpaceX’s third high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype from our site in Cameron County, Texas.

Similar to the high-altitude flight tests of Starship SN8 and SN9, SN10 was powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence before the vehicle reached apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN10 performed a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and controlled aerodynamic descent.

Play Video

SpaceX Brownsville

Starship | SN9

Starship SN9 (Serial Number 9) is currently on the SpaceX Brownsville Launch Pad.
SpaceX is conducting another static fire test with Starship SN9 in Brownsville, Texas. A successful test will clear the way for a test flight in the coming days if all goes well.
Play Video

High-Altitude Flight Recap

Starship | SN8

On December 9, 2020, Starship serial number 8 (SN8) completed a high-altitude flight test as it successfully ascended, transitioned propellant, and demonstrated a first-of-its-kind controlled aerodynamic descent and landing flip maneuver – which will enable landing where prepared surfaces or runways do not exist, including the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Play Video

Starhopper test flight in Brownsville, Texas

Starhopper Test

Nicknamed Starhopper, the rocket is the prototype for SpaceX’s vehicle, Starship. The company is building an enormous rocket to achieve its goal of transporting up to 100 people on space flights. SpaceX aimed to fly Starhopper to about 500 feet altitude.

Starship is the fully reusable spacecraft and the second stage of the Starship system. It offers an integrated payload section and is capable of carrying passengers and cargo to Earth orbit, planetary destinations, and between destinations on Earth.

Starship is currently being tested at Space X Brownsville. 

The City of Brownsville, Visit BTX and BTV present
the 2nd Annual Give Me Some Space Celebration!

In honor of National Space Day, we will be hosting a series of panels, video live-streams, events and activities. Check the Give Me Some Space 2021 series.
Scroll to Top