SpaceX Mission to Mars

BLAST OFF!

SpaceX Mission to Mars Isla Blanca Park is the place to be

By Dr. Kimberly Selber + Photography by Carlos Nuñez

If you’re a space enthusiast, you can grab a front-row seat for the next Starbase SpaceX launch right here at South Padre Island. With the Boca Chica launch site just across the bay, you have a perfect view of the towering SpaceX rockets and an unobstructed view on launch days from Isla Blanca Park or many of our beachside hotels.

Starbase is where some of the most advanced rockets are tested for everything from near orbital satellite deployments to the Mars mission. There are no tours of Starbase, but on non-launch days you can drive, staying on the public road, past the Starship rockets— something you can’t do at other launch sites. If you’re visiting for a launch, allow three to four days for your trip. Dates and times notoriously change due to weather and technical issues.

You can learn more on the SpaceX website (SpaceX. com) as well as tracking the Mars exploration program at NASA’s (Mars.NASA.gov)

There are many things to do on the Island while waiting on a launch, enjoy the sun, surf, and sunsets.