Given comments made on April 25 by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, it seems very likely that the space-tech company will build their new launch site in Texas.
“We’re developing a launch pad on the south coast of Texas,” Musk reportedly said at a news conference. “We’ll probably have that site active in a couple of years.”
According to the Houston Chronicle, the only thing stopping Musk from pursuing immediate development is “clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which he expects to receive soon.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that SpaceX’s proposed project would likely have no negative environmental impacts. In May 2014, the FAA will release a follow-up comprehensive impact study regarding the project and its impact on the surrounding area. The agency will work with several consulting firms to determine any possible problems the launch site may cause.
As Breitbart Texas previously reported, SpaceX hopes to spend $73,650,000 to build a private launch site in Texas’ Cameron County. This site would allow for commercial launches such as satellites.
The land on which SpaceX plans to build is immense. The company currently owns 90 parcels in the area, covering 34 acres. The Valley Morning Star reported that the area is a mere three miles north of Mexico.
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