SpaceX Breaks Ground on Texas Rocket Launch Site
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Sep 22, 2014, 7:42 PM ET
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press
The commercial rocket launches that could begin as early as 2016 in the southernmost tip of Texas will be a critical step toward one day establishing a human presence on
Mars, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said Monday.
With waves from the Gulf of Mexico crashing just over the dunes and crabs skittering around a tent erected for the groundbreaking, Musk said he expects SpaceX to invest $100
million in the world's first commercial orbital spaceport during the next three to four years.
The commercial satellite launch revenue Musk anticipates generating at the Boca Chica Beach site east of Brownsville will fuel California-based SpaceX's real objective. "The
long-term goal is to create technology necessary to take humanity beyond Earth," Musk said. "To take humanity to Mars and establish a base on Mars. So it could very well be that the first person that
departs for another planet will depart from this location."
Beginning as early as the third quarter of 2016, Musk said he expects the spaceport to handle at least 12 rocket launches per year. SpaceX will continue using government
launch sites in Florida and California, but Musk said its manifest would outpace the available launch windows at those existing sites.
Gov. Rick Perry, on hand for the ceremony, announced a $4.4 million grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to the University of Texas at Brownsville that will be
matched by the University of Texas System to test and commercialize a new communications system at laboratories at the SpaceX Boca Chica complex.
"The future of South Texas takes off right behind me," Perry said.
Perry is also providing $2.3 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund toward the spaceport and an additional $13 million from the Spaceport Trust Fund.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday that it had awarded $1.2 million to the University of Texas at Brownsville for a high-tech business incubation facility that
could foster a cluster of space industry businesses.
SpaceX is expected to create 300 jobs at the site, and Musk said he expected other companies to settle there.
SpaceX already provides resupply missions for the International Space Station with its unmanned Dragon capsule, most recently on Sunday. Last week, SpaceX and Boeing won
contracts to carry U.S. astronauts to the space station beginning in 2016 or 2017. Musk said he expects those NASA missions to continue to launch from Florida. NASA has not launched its own crews
since the end of the shuttle program in 2011.
Musk said he would like to fly to Mars one day but that his goals are not about tourism. He said the question is whether humans become a less vulnerable multi-planet
species.
"I think the important thing is to develop the technology that will enable ultimately anyone to move to Mars if they really want to," he said.
State approves loans for second causeway
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Yvette Vela/The Brownsville Herald
State approves loans for second causeway
Posted: Saturday, November 2, 2013 9:00 am
State approves loans for second
causeway By MARK REAGAN The Brownsville Herald Brownsville Herald
With the approval of a little more than $10 million in loans to Cameron County for the second causeway project, Texas has
signaled its support of another vehicle access point to South Padre Island.
The Texas Transportation Commission Thursday approved two loans for the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority for the second
causeway and outer parkway projects.
The commission approved a $5 million financial assistance request from the CCRMA for pre-development environmental studies, design,
legal services and other qualified development costs for the Outer Parkway project, which is a planned toll road beginning at Interstate 69, formerly called Expressway 77, north of Harlingen and
stretching east, connecting with the planned second causeway.
Secondly, the commission approved an additional $5.1 million CCRMA request for funds that will be used to continue the study and
development of the Second Causeway Project.
CCRMA coordinator Pete Sepulveda Jr. said the $5.1 million will be used to finalize the draft environmental impact study as well as
being utilized for traffic and revenue studies.
“The important thing is it will allow us to complete the environmental process, which is an extremely important part of the process,”
Sepulveda said. “We believe that by the summer of 2015 the environmental impact study will be done and we should be close to getting environmental clearance.”
After that’s done, Sepulveda said the CCRMA can start design and then construction.
The $5 million for the Outer Parkway Project will be used for traffic and revenue studies, he said.
“They are two different projects, but the funds will allow us to review and complete the environmental process in the same timeframe
for clearance on the causeway,” Sepulveda said. “The two different projects go hand in hand.”
The Texas Transportation Commission reports the Second Causeway Project also will provide a second hurricane evacuation route as well
as enhancing local and regional mobility while decreasing traffic congestion.
“The completion of the project will benefit the state and traveling public and improve the efficiency of the state’s transportation
system by enhancing local and regional mobility, decreasing congestion, increasing safety, increasing economic development opportunities, decreasing travel time and improved access for emergency
response, and enhancing operational efficiency and quality of life in the project corridor and the regional transportation system,” according to the commission’s Oct. 31 meeting minutes. “The
project, when used in conjunction with existing roadways, would significantly improve hurricane evacuation by providing an additional east-west roadway to funnel traffic to I-69 East and away from
coast areas.”
Sepulveda said the commission’s approval of $10.1 million for the Second Causeway Project and Outer Parkway Project is
huge.
“It’s not a short-term project. It’s a long-term project and providing a second access will create thousands of jobs over 30 or 40
years,” Sepulveda said. “This is a great regional project for the state of Texas and the commission funding gives an idea of the commitment and importance of the project to the state of
Texas.”
Another step forward for second South Padre Island causeway
Posted: 12.30.2014 at 9:56 PM
It's been in the works for six years now, and Cameron County leaders are celebrating a big step forward in the construction of the second causeway to
South Padre Island.
Cameron County administrator Pete Sepulveda calls it a major milestone.
The required final study on how construction of the second causeway will impact the environment has been submitted to federal authorities for review.
Sepulveda said the environmental impact study has been in the works since 2012.
The second causeway would span 8 miles over the Laguna Madre, starting at the intersection of Farm to Market (FM) 510 and Buena Vista boulevard.
The plans are designed to have the most minimal impact to the wildlife and vegetation around the Laguna Madre, and Sepulveda said the county will also add more seagrass to those areas impacted by
construction.
It’s up to the federal highway administration and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to authorize the project.
Sepulveda says the 700 million dollar project has been getting a lot of support from the State of Texas.
Once the plan is approved, the county will seek bids to select a developer.
They hope to begin construction by the summer of 2017 and have it finished three years later.
SpaceX gets federal clearance for South Texas launch site
SpaceX has received a green light from the Federal Aviation Administration to construct a spaceport in South Texas.
The Environmental Impact Statement (see .pdf of
documents), issued by the FAA’s Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation George Nield, concludes with The undersigned finds that
the Proposed Action is consistent with existing national environmental policies and objectives as set forth in Section 101(a) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
The proposed 56.5-acre launch site at Boca Chica beach would launch up to 12 rockets a year, including two Falcon 9 Heavy rockets, which could begin flying in
2015. These launches would be for commercial (i.e. satellites) as well as possibly NASA purposes.
An artist rendering of a proposed spaceport at Boca Chica Beach. (Space X)
This statement from the FAA was the key regulatory approval SpaceX had been waiting for before announcing the location of its independent launch site.
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Posted Monday, Apr.
08, 2013 comments PrintReprints
CASINOS COMING TO TEXAS?
Texas Legislature Online
BY DAVE MONTGOMERY
dmontgomery@star-telegram.com
AUSTIN -- The chief
architect of legislation to expand gambling in Texas said Monday that proponents are "inching closer" to winning approval of a proposed constitutional amendment that would send the issue to the
voters after years of debate.
But Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee,
acknowledged it remains uncertain whether they can get the job done before the current legislative session ends next month.
"I would tell you we're very, very close," Carona said. "And I would suggest that with a little
push at the appropriate time from the various leaders we have throughout the Legislature, this bill can in fact become law."
"I can't tell you whether or not it'll be this session or not," he added, "but I can tell you
with certainty ... we are inching closer and closer to that day."
Carona, flanked by other proponents at a capitol press conference, announced there will be a
hearing Wednesday on a proposed constitutional amendment that could pave the way for Las Vegas-type destination casinos in three urban counties, including Tarrant, as well as similar casinos at Lone
Star Park in Grand Prairie and the state's two other Class One Race tracks.
It also would permit slot machines at other approved horse and dog race tracks.
The hearing will constitute the session's first showdown between those battling to bring expanded
gambling to Texas and those working to stop it. Texas has racetracks and a statewide lottery but efforts to allow casinos in the Lone Star Sate have foundered in previous sessions.
Rob Kohler, consultant for the Christian Life Commission for Texas Baptists, one of the leading
opponents of the expanded gambling, said the outlook is no different this session.
"Do I think this bill will pass? I don't," said Kohler. "We feel we have the numbers. More people
will vote against it than vote for it."
The objective for pro-gambling forces is mustering a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the
Legislature to send the issue directly to the voters as a proposed constitutional amendment.
Proponents say rank-and-file Texans should be empowered to decide whether or not to expand
gambling. The strategy also pre-empts the state's best-known opponent of expanded gambling - Gov. Rick Perry - because the governor cannot veto amendments that are passed by the Legislature and sent
to the voters to decide.
"One the things about this, it's a constitutional amendment so the governor does not have any
veto over this resolution, and, of course that's not by accident," said Carona.
Perry spokesman Rich Parson reiterated the governor's long-held position Monday: "He's opposed to
expanding the footprint of gambling in Texas."
Carona's proposal would permit showcase casino resorts in Tarrant, Dallas and Bexar counties,
although the proposal may be amended to include Harris County. The measure would also permit barrier island casinos in Galveston, Corpus Christi and South Padre
Island, three more for the class one race tracks and slots or casino licenses for lower-tier racetracks.
Casinos would also be authorized for the state's three federally licensed Indian tribes in
Livingston, El Paso and Eagle Pass.
State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston,. is also proposing a constitutional amendment permitting up
to eight destination resort casinos as well as horse-and-dog-racing slots and gaming facilities on Indian reservations. But only Carona's bill is scheduled to be the focus of Wednesday's
hearing.
Jack Pratt Sr., chairman of the Texas Gaming Association, described the destination casinos
proposed in Carona's bill as "iconic" luxury resorts that would cost between $2 billion to $3 billion to build.
Only four major U.S. companies - Las Vegas Sands, Winn Resorts, MGM and Harrah's - have the
financial firepower to construct the top of the line casinos, but a number of smaller companies are prepared to spend between $100 million to $300 million for other casinos envisioned in Carona's
bill, Pratt said.
"We'll have plenty of people. This will be the largest state that's ever had this type of
offering for many, many years," Pratt said. "So it'll be very competitively bid."
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