Watch a rocket launch in the Lone Star State.
By George Moore, A460576
September/October 2026
Approximately 20 miles east of Brownsville, Texas, along State Highway 4, you arrive at the newest city in the Lone Star State: Starbase. This rapidly growing planned community includes residences; recreation facilities; and headquarters, research, development, production, test, and rocket launch facilities. The town is designed to attract engineers
and other workers for the SpaceX aerospace program, located at the very southeast corner of Texas along the Rio Grande River and the border with Mexico.
The SpaceX development site in Starbase, Texas.
Since breaking ground in September 2014, Starbase has been under continuous development and was officially incorporated in 2025. Today the industrial complex serves as the main testing and production location for Starship launch vehicles. A parking garage and other support buildings are on-site also, along with a solar farm that supplies a portion of its electrical requirements. The launch facility is just a few hundred yards farther on the right side of the two-lane road. You will know you are at SpaceX when you see the overwhelming number of Tesla trucks in the parking lots. Just past the launch facility, the highway leads onto Boca Chica Beach, a popular spot for fishing, hunting shells, and just relaxing (when launches and tests aren’t scheduled).
Starbase Texas is planned to be the launch and recovery site for returning astronauts to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Ultimately, this will be the launch site for sending humanity to Mars, the best destination to begin making life multiplanetary, according to SpaceX’s mission statement.
To make this happen, Starbase is the research, development, production, testing, and launch site for Starship spacecraft (second stage) and Super Heavy rocket (booster). These are collectively referred to as “Starship.” The first Starship launch took place in April 2023, with multiple launches planned this year.
Although off to a slow start in 2026, SpaceX has received approval to increase launches from Starbase to 25 a year. The peak production goal is planned to be one Starship per day, according to SpaceX’s website.
The booster is now routinely recovered back at the launch tower using a robotic apparatus referred to as chopsticks, to be reused on future missions. After further testing, Starship (second stage) will also be recovered and reused for future missions. This ability to reuse the complete rocket will greatly reduce the cost of launching satellites and performing other manned and unmanned space exploration missions.
The Starship spacecraft takes off, creating a visual spectacle that spectators also feel and hear.
Although SpaceX does not have a visitor center or provide tours, the site is very accessible along Texas Highway 4. Keep your eyes open and your camera ready as you approach from the west, because you might see a booster and second stage outside the production facility. As you drive by, you may get a glimpse of them over the recently built wall or looking down the plant road from the highway. Frequently, a Super Heavy and Starship can be seen outside the production buildings. At this writing, ample safe parking is available along the highway shoulder approaching and across from the facility. With so much construction taking place, however, this can change overnight.
Photographers also can obtain interesting photos of the launch facility from the sand dunes on the beach and from the highway. Drone use is not permitted, and restricted areas are clearly marked.
Starship is launched from and recovered at the 480-foot-tall launch towers, the tallest in the world. At 407 feet high and 29.5 feet in diameter, Starship is the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, according to SpaceX. Let’s look
at a few interesting facts about Super Heavy and Starship.
Super Heavy (booster) is powered by 33 Raptor engines, 13 of which are gimbaled for directional control and are visible during docking. It is 236 feet tall and 29.5 feet in diameter. The engines are fueled by 3,600 tons of sub-cooled methane and liquid oxygen, which can produce up to 18.1 million pounds of thrust. Starship (second stage) is 171 feet tall and 29.5 feet in diameter; 1,600 tons of fuel are carried for its six Raptor engines, which produce up to 3.6 million pounds of thrust. Starship will be capable of carrying up to 100 passengers or 100-plus metric tons of cargo (reusable). Future plans also call for a refueling-capable Starship (without windows) to refuel in-orbit Starships, allowing them to continue long-range missions, such as to Mars. The refueling vessel will fly alongside and dock to the in-flight Starship.
The booster returns to the launch site and is secured by mechanical “chopsticks.”
View sites. In addition to viewing and photographing the launch facility, visitors can find great vantage points for watching the launches and recoveries as well. These locations provide excellent overwater viewing with the naked eye, although binoculars will get you up close and personal. Because of their proximity to the launch site, spectators also can hear and feel the launch. I shot my photographs with a crop sensor DSLR and 100-400mm lens with 1.4 extender and a full-frame DSLR with a 100-400mm lens and 1.4 extender.
The South Padre Island KOA Holiday is about 5 miles across the water from the SpaceX launch site and has 194 RV sites (koa.com/campgrounds/south-padre). A few prime RV sites are on the water facing the SpaceX launch facility
and provide a great view of the launches and recoveries. The facility also has a viewing area where guests can bring their lawn chairs and coolers to relax, picnic, and watch the launches. The park manager recommends making reservations well in advance of scheduled launches, as sites fill up quickly. Visitors also should plan on the possibility of launch delays due to weather or technical issues.
The 480-foot-high launch pad for the SpaceX rockets.
Just past the KOA Holiday, another great location for viewing the launch and recovery is Isla Blanca Park, at the tip of South Padre Island (cameroncountytx.gov/parks-coastal-parks/parks-isla-blanca). With 618 full-hookup RV sites (30-amp and 50-amp), the park can handle a lot of RVs. But like the neighboring KOA site, it also fills up for launches. Be advised that, at this writing, the park’s RV sites are closed for major renovations, with no estimated completion date. Its day-use areas and beaches are open, however.
Isla Blanca Park’s two beaches provide a clear overwater view of the launch facility, and both have restroom buildings. The park also has beach parking for day-use visitors, but you must arrive early (I arrived 3 hours early to park). After the lots are filled, they close the gates and you will park outside the entrance and walk in. They also offer a military/veteran day-use discount with ID. Isla Blanca Park is a great viewing location for those of us who stay at one of the many locations in the lower Rio Grande Valley, about 74 miles from McAllen, Texas.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley and South Padre Island are home to thousands of “Winter Texans” and thousands of other vacationers and travelers. The next time you visit this area, plan your trip to include a Starship launch. Even if the temperature in the “valley” is in the 70s, bring a warm jacket for protection from the chilly Gulf breeze. If you are a Winter Texan or a short-time visitor, check the SpaceX website (SpaceX.com) for scheduled launches and other news.
While wintering at Victoria Palms RV Resort in Donna, Texas, I was able to photograph two launches. I photographed Starship 7 from an acquaintance’s home at Port Isabel and Starship 8 from the beach at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island.
Launches, can be viewed in many spots near the facility, including from a commercial charter boat.
You may have the opportunity to experience one or more launches during your stay, depending on the launch schedule. You’ll likely find the fire, smoke, and roar of the rocket from the launch awesome and the booster recovery, enhanced by a sonic boom, mind-boggling.