SpaceX has made some exciting moves this summer. On May 30, their Crew Dragon spaceship launches on its historic Demo-2 mission, taking astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the ISS. They returned safely on August 2, shortly after the SN5 prototype performed the long-awaited 150 m (500 ft) jump test at the company’s launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
And now, in a move that reflects what Virgin Galactic is doing at Spaceport America in New Mexico, SpaceX has committed to transforming Brownsville – the city closest to the Boca Chica facility – into its own spaceport. To that end, SpaceX recently posted a job application on its website announcing that it is looking for a Resort Development Manager. Potential applicants should follow the link if they think they are up to the task!
The post was first noticed by CNBC space reporter Michael Sheetz, who shared the news via Twitter. According to the job description, the RDM would be responsible for overseeing the “design, architecture and construction of the project”, and obtaining all necessary approvals (at city, provincial and government level), and serving in the capacity of the superintendent of the project.
Back in February of 2020, SpaceX provided some clues as to what this future space port looks like. According to a post, Musk hopes to convert the village of Boca Chica into the “SpaceX Village.” This “private spaceport with eyes on Mars” would contain 100 rooms and host activities such as volleyball tournaments, rock climbing, kayaking and “spaceport lounge events and parties.”
That message was removed from the site shortly thereafter, when SpaceX began resisting resistance from the villagers, with half apparently refusing to sell their homes many times their market value. The issue turned out to be an outrageous one, with Musk demanding that the residents leave so that the development of the Starship could continue without all the associated risks and the residents seeking legal advice.
With this latest post, it appears that SpaceX is still committed to transforming Boca Chica into a facility similar to what Virgin Galactic is setting up in the New Mexico desert. Currently, Spaceport America is the headquarters of VG’s human spaceflight and the center of its flight operations, providing the infrastructure for launches and the facilities to train its astronauts.
Central to this is the Gateway to Space building, which VG unveiled last year as part of its declaration of ‘operational readiness’. This two-story area is where VG houses its cars and includes common areas for customers to collect before and after flights. Given the importance of realizing Musk’s dream of commercial spaceflight, his goal is without a doubt to establish something very similar at Boca Chica.
This news comes shortly after SpaceX launched an application looking for Offshore Operations Engineers and Offshore System Technicians, positions that would also be located in Brownsville and would involve the creation of an offshore rocket launch facility. Musk explained the purpose of building facilities offshore in a reply tweet issued shortly after the positions were posted, saying:
“We have to be far enough away not to suffer from heavily populated areas. The launch and landing are not subtle. But you could get in a boat within a few miles of the spaceport. ”
SpaceX hints at how these offshore facilities could look in an animated way Starship video released back in 2017 (shown below). In that video, the Starship en Superheavy launch systems are on a launch platform located on the shores of New York City. After taking passengers who are brought to the platform by boat, the Starship flies to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and lands on a similar offshore platform near Shanghai.
At the time, this was one of several services Musk provided for the new launch system, which included providing satellites to orbit, space tourism, and regular trips to the Moon and Mars. The video highlights how, when ready, the Starship / Superheavy – then known as the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) – could deliver intercontinental flights between major cities in about thirty minutes.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility continues to grow as development, construction and testing of the Starship keep going. Although the company purchased the land next to the small village community (largely populated by retirees) to set up its South Texas Launch Facility back in 2013, it was not until 2018 that the site began to experience intense activity.
Since then, SpaceX has expanded its operations in and around the village, often until the consternation of the locals (they are not big fans of rocket launches and / or the accidental explosion, apparently!) Hence why SpaceX’s plans to push forward with the development of the Starship are tied to the continued growth of the facility.
If Musk hopes to test more prototypes after failure and send a few to the job, it would be best if there was no community with pensions living nearby!
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