 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2019) |
STARGATE—SpacecraftTracking andAstronomicalResearch intoGigahertzAstrophysicalTransientEmission—was aradio-frequency (RF) technologyfacility which was located next to theSpaceX Starbase in southTexas.
The facility was intended to provide students and faculty access to RF technologies widely used inspaceflight operations, includingsatellite andspacecraft tracking.
In 2019, the main STARGATE facility was leased to SpaceX for use in development of theSpaceX Starship, although other STARGATE assets continued to operate at other locations, primarily UTRGV's main campus in Brownsville.[1] In December 2024, theUniversity of Texas System approved sale of the main STARGATE facility to SpaceX.[2] In April 2025, SpaceX demolished the STARGATE building to make way for construction of its new GigaBay manufacturing facility.[3]
The Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission facility was proposed in 2012 by Fredrick (Rick) Jenet, director of the Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA) and an associate professor of physics and astronomy at theUniversity of Texas-Brownsville. Initial funding includedUS$500,000 in seed money provided by theGreater Brownsville Incentives Corporation in October 2012, as part of a package to increase the likelihood of attractingSpaceX to build alaunch site in the area.[4][5][6][7][8] The goal was also to have students and the faculty to be hands-on and assist with launches and space exploration, which was viewed as a rare opportunity.[8]
In 2014, following the announcement of theSpaceX private spaceport being built nearBoca Chica Beach, theBrownsville Economic Development Council (BEDC) purchased several lots inStarbase totaling 2.3 acres (0.93 ha) approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from the SpaceX launch site and renamed it as the STARGATE subdivision. The land is used for the STARGATE project including the construction of a 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) tracking center.[9]
Construction bids for a dual-channel fiber optic link between UT Brownsville and the STARGATE/SpaceX sites at Boca Chica went out in early March 2015.[10]
In mid-2015, the University of Texas at Brownsville merged with another university to become theUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley. STARGATE contracts and administration moved to the new university administrative structure.
Two 9 m (30 ft)S-band tracking station antennas from the decommissionedMerritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network station were refurbished and installed at the site in 2016–2017.[citation needed]
As of March 2015[update], the grants to fund STARGATE have totaled approximatelyUS$10.7 million, consisting of:
STARGATE was initially funded byUS$500,000 in seed money provided by theGreater Brownsville Incentives Corporation in October 2012, which was intended to improve the likelihood that Brownsville would be successful in attractingSpaceX to build alaunch site in the area.[11]
Further incentives were presented to SpaceX in September 2013 when theUniversity of Texas System proposed that SpaceX partner with UT Brownsville'sCenter for Advanced Radio Astronomy in building and operating STARGATE.[12]
STARGATE received aUS$1.2 million grant from theUS Economic Development Administration in October 2014.[13]
Early in 2015, "the Brownsville Economic Development Council donated property[clarification needed] at Boca Chica to the UT system for theSTARGATE Technology Park."[10] The dollar value of the in-kind funding for the property was not released.
As of October 2014[update], STARGATE intended to develop new devices and new algorithms for tracking spacecraft, and intends tocommercialize those technologies.[14]
STARGATE planned to "test and commercialize a newphased-array antenna system that will replace fixed satellite-dish tracking communication systems."[15]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)STARGATE will develop new radio frequency based technologies. STARGATE has already identified specific, innovative devices and improved algorithms that will soon allow for the next generation of orbital communication systems. This new technology will be the first wave of inventions commercialized at STARGATE. ... STARGATE intends to: ... [p]ublish reports on commercialization successes and host showcase events for the public.
25°59′07″N97°11′14″W / 25.9854°N 97.1872°W /25.9854; -97.1872
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