But Hurdles Such As Limited State Resources And Environmental Concerns Could Stymie The Project

In November of 2011, SpaceX said it was looking for a site on which to build a new launch facility. In April, 2012, SpaceX said it was considering a launch site in Texas, and in the fall of last year, the commercial space company bought land in Cameron County, TX along the Gulf of Mexico on the Mexican border.

But Texas is in competition with states like Florida, which has an established launch infrastructure in place. Georgia and Puerto Rico are also maneuvering to lure SpaceX, according to a report from the Associated Press.

SpaceX already has a presence in Texas, with a rocket manufacturing and testing facility in McGregor. State officials say they hope that a facility that SpaceX would not have to share with NASA and the U.S. Air Force would be attractive to the commercial space company. But some Texas elected officials say that the state's resources could be better spent on other projects in the region, such as the establishment of a new medical school being championed by the University of Texas Board of Regents, according to the AP. State Representative Rene Oliveira (D) said she does not know if Texas could ever reach a point that it would be competitive with Florida or Puerto Rico for a launch site.

The FAA would also have to complete an environmental impact study on the site before any construction could begin. SpaceX has said that just because it has bought the property does not mean it will build a launch facility in south Texas.

(ANN staff image SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral, FL.)

FMI: www.spacex.com, www.texas.gov