Wednesday, April 11, 2012

SpaceX Plans Launch Site In Texas

Hawthorne-based SpaceX is gearing up to set up a launch site in Cameron County, Texas, according to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In a release to the public, the FAA said that SpaceX is developing an environmental impact statement and public meetings to discuss the plan. The FAA said that SpaceX is proposing to launch its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy orbital vertical launch vehicles from a private site located in Cameron County, Texas, with up to 12 commercial launches per year. The new launch site is located approximately 5 miles south of Port Isabel and South Padre Island. SpaceX, which is headed by technology moguls Elon Musk has been launching its vehicles from Cape Canaveral; the firm also has plans to launch its rockets from Vandenberg Air Force Base.