Boca Chica Site Overview

This page is intended to provide an overview of the Boca Chica testing and production site (See also Starbase). Further information can also be found on https://wiki.labpadre.com/w/Main\_Page.

The Boca Chica construction and testing site, given the name Starbase by SpaceX (See article Starbase), is located around Boca Chica village in Cameron County, Texas. The nearest city is Brownsville. It can be devided into three main parts. From west to east (towards the sea) those are: the construction area (including the old gas well), the village, the launch site.

## History

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## Boca Chica Village

*Main Article: Boca Chica Village*

Boca Chica Village consists of two rows of housings along the Weems Street. Access from Highway 4 (Boca Chica Boulevard) is possible via the San Martin Boulevard in the southwest or the Eichhorn Boulevard in the northeast. SpaceX has been able to buy most of the houses and only a few local residents remain at the village.

SpaceX facilities in the village area include:

* SpaceX Solar Farm
* Tracking Station with two satellites
* Staff restaurant, located at the turn into Eichhorn Boulevard, using MK1 Fins
* Drone port near the Restaurant "Another Fine Product from the Nonsense Factory"[1]
* Crane Storage Yard

Road Closures are usually installed right after the turn from Boca Chica Boulevard into Eichorn Boulevard.

## Construction/Building Site

*Main Article: Construction/Building Site*

The Boca Chica Construction/Building Site is located adjacent in the southwest of the village and includes two separate parts. The first part is the construction site where the prototypes are being constructed and assembled. The second part is the old gas well, an area where recently (February 2021) new facilities are constructed in order to produce fuel onsite.

SpaceX facilities in the construction/building site include:

* Stargate (oldest building on site [2])
* Mid Bay
* High Bay
* Wider high bay under construction
* Low Bay/Ironhenge/Windbreak
* Fabrication Tents
* Vans (Mars pathfinder airstream park?[3])
* Parking areas
* Lunar Mockup
* LOX destillery (At the old gas well)

LabPadre's Sentinel Cam is usually directed towards this area. Since mid 2021, Raptor Roost cam, that also shows certain parts of this area, is accessible to the public.

## Launch/Testing Site

*Main Article: Launch/Testing Site*

The Boca Chica Launch/Testing Site is locatd 2.3 km (1.43 miles) eastwards (ENE) from the village (measured from the Road Closure location), towards the beach. It is the place where all potentially dangerous testing operations are conducted such as cryo tests, WDRs, static fires and launches (including RUDs).

SpaceX facilities at the launch/testing site include:

* Tank Farm
* Suborbital Launch Pad 1 or A
* Suborbital Launch Pad 2 or B
* Container Row
* Landing Pad
* Starhopper (stationary, equipped with cameras, lights and speakers)
* Orbital Launch Site (OLS)
	+ Orbital Launch Mount (OLM)
	+ Launch and integration tower (OLIT/OLS, IT)
	+ Bunker/Power Bay (PB)
	+ A tent (dismanteled after SN8 flight)
	+ Tank farm under construction (OLS tank farm)

LabPadre's cameras provide views from different angles of the launch site. The closest cam is Launch Pad Cam (now Starbase Rover Cam).

## Massey's Test Site

*Main Article: Massey's Test Site*

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1366848696298561536