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BASTROP — Elon Musk’s SpaceX, headquartered in Bastrop, is advancing preparations for the ninth test flight of its Starship rocket, according to a company release.
The launch is planned at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Cameron County and will test the rocket’s ability to lift off, separate from its booster and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. Starship is designed to carry humans and cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond, officials said.
Although the launch will occur on the Gulf Coast, much of the rocket’s development is tied to the company’s local operations, where engineers and technicians support both the Starship and Starlink programs.
Public viewing areas include the Cameron County Amphitheater at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island and various sites in Port Isabel. The company also plans to livestream the event.
As of press deadline, the launch remained scheduled for Tuesday, May 27.
Environmental protections are being enforced in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and additional flight restrictions and safety zones are expected around the launch site, according to SpaceX.
