SpaceX is moving forward with their plans to fly people out to space with a very likely chance for those trips to be taking off out of the Boca Chica site.

Elon Musk, Chief Engineer and SpaceX CEO, update on Saturday not only surprised the public but made it clear that their stay in Cameron County will be long term.

With several tests runs taking place out of their Boca Chica launch site, SpaceX is at the forefront and changing the way we see space travel.

“As far as we know, this is the only place at least in this part of the galaxy or in the Milky Way, where there is consciousness and it’s taken us a long time to get to this point,” Musk explained during the Starship update conference on Saturday. “It’s a different original game plan. But now all of a sudden they are talking about launching from Boca Chica to the moon and all points north, so it’s very exciting.”

A game plan Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. says was not originally presented to the county in 2014.



At the time, SpaceX planned to use the site to launch the Falcon Heavy rockets. But just over a year ago, that idea evolved into something greater.

“That was somewhat new, we didn’t know to what extent. But we felt better after Saturday’s event that they’re committed short and long-term to the area,” Trevino explained.



He says since SpaceX first arrived in Brownsville they have been buying out property primarily around the location they are currently at.



Now want to buy out remaining properties in the area including Boca Chica Village, a neighborhood that stands just feet away from the current location.

While SpaceX continues to move forward with their plans, Trevino made it clear that the county must give them approval first.

“We need to work with them. They need to work with us, we also need to continue to protect the natural environment, which is Boca Chica beach and surrounding wetlands. I hope any impact to it is minimal at best or worse. We want to continue to protect the public right to access the public beaches,” he said.

As far as for residents living in the village, he says his office has received very few complaints about their current situation. But hopes both SpaceX and residents can come to a compromise.