Earlier this week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully launched the 10th iteration of its combination Starship/Super Heavy vehicle, marking what the company said was a “significant step forward in developing the world’s first truly reusable launch vehicle.” Flight 10 allowed SpaceX to mark a few “firsts” in its endeavors toward engineering a spacecraft capable of one day transporting humans to Mars, but the test flight also marked an important “last.”
Tuesday’s launch was the last SpaceX launch during which Cameron County officials would have any oversight authority over the roads surrounding Starbase. That’s because, beginning on Monday, September 1, a new law will go into effect that cedes that authority to the Texas Space Commission and to Musk’s company town.
The commission will, “As necessary to promote space-related industries… and notwithstanding any other law, issue an order, subject to the approval of the municipality’s governing body, to temporarily close… a highway,” reads the relevant portion of House Bill 5246.
The bill passed the Texas Legislature in June at the 11th hour of the legislative session — and after two similar pieces of legislation authored by lawmakers from the Rio Grande Valley, had failed earlier in the session. Neither House Bill 4660, authored by state Rep. Janie Lopez, R-San Benito, nor Senate Bill 2188, authored by state Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, was able to pass both chambers.
Until now, that authority has rested with Cameron County, and specifically, with Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. Cameron County officials vehemently opposed efforts to remove that authority.
But after Lopez’s and Hinojosa’s bills failed, language regarding who should have authority over beach and road closures was inserted into HB 5246, an unrelated bill meant to further define the role of the Texas Space Commission.
With the bill going into effect on Monday, Laguna Madre area locals and space fans alike will soon see beach closure notifications originating from a new spot: the city of Starbase website.