SpaceX Starbase is a rocket production, testing, and launch facility located in Boca Chica, Texas. It is focused on the development of SpaceX’s next-generation reusable rocket system called Starship/Super Heavy. Key points:
- Located in Boca Chica, Cameron County near Brownsville, Texas right by the Gulf coast.
- Formerly just an empty field, construction began in 2014. Main buildout started in 2019.
- Primary purpose is to design, build, and launch the Starship/Super Heavy rocket system. This is a fully reusable rocket intended for eventual human missions to Mars.
- Facility includes a rocket factory, testing stands, and launch pads for suborbital and orbital test flights.
- Starbase is rapidly evolving as SpaceX iterates on Starship design and production.
Factory
The Starbase factory is where Starship and Super Heavy boosters are assembled. Key details:
- Early versions built in large outdoor tents made of sprung structures. Tents allow rapid scaling of production.
- Tents are now being replaced by permanent steel buildings as design matures.
- Starships are built by stacking rings and domes welded together from stainless steel sheets.
- Boosters also assembled from stacked rings and domes but much wider in diameter.
- Vertical assembly occurs in large outdoor bays for both Starship and boosters.
- Factory is expanding to enable production of multiple ships and boosters simultaneously.
Launch Site
The launch site has test stands for engine tests and suborbital launch pads. An orbital launch pad is under construction. Details:
- Initial small test pad used for Starhopper low altitude tests in 2019.
- Bigger suborbital pad built for high altitude test flights of prototypes to 60,000 feet.
- Orbital pad built to support full stack launches, and landings, of Starship with Super Heavy booster.
- Goal is to launch Starship into orbit from Boca Chica in the near future.
Village
Boca Chica village provides housing, power, and amenities for SpaceX employees working at Starbase.
- Formerly a small retirement community with beach houses. Now owned by SpaceX.
- Additional housing, solar farms, dish antennas, and infrastructure added to support operations.
- Village has a restaurant, campers, and renovated homes for workers.
Summary
In just a few years, SpaceX has built Starbase into a major spaceflight facility rivaling NASA centers. It is now on the frontier of human space exploration, serving as the development and test site for Starship rockets that may one day reach Mars. The pace of innovation and change at Starbase is rapid as SpaceX iterates on design and production.
