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STARGATE—Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission—is a radio-frequency (RF) technology facility which is located next to the SpaceX Starbase in south Texas.

The facility was intended to provide students and faculty access to RF technologies widely used in spaceflight operations, including satellite and spacecraft tracking.

As of 2023, the main STARGATE facility has been leased to SpaceX for use in development of the SpaceX Starship, but other STARGATE assets continue to operate at other locations, primarily UTRGV's main campus in Brownsville.^[1]

History

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 the University of Texas-Brownsville. Initial funding included US$500,000 in seed money provided by the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation in October 2012, as part of a package to increase the likelihood of attracting SpaceX to build a launch site in the area.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] 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.^[6]

In 2014, following the announcement of the SpaceX private spaceport being built near Boca Chica Beach, the Brownsville Economic Development Council (BEDC) purchased several lots in Boca Chica Village 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.^[7]

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.^[8]

In mid-2015, the University of Texas at Brownsville merged with another university to become the University 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 decommissioned Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network station were refurbished and installed at the site in 2016–2017.^{[citation needed]}

Funding

As of March 2015^[update], the grants to fund STARGATE have totaled approximately US$10.7 million, consisting of:

US$4.4 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund
US$4.6 million from the University of Texas System
US$1.2 million from the US Economic Development Administration
US$0.5 million from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.^[8]

STARGATE was initially funded by US$500,000 in seed money provided by the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation in October 2012, which was intended to improve the likelihood that Brownsville would be successful in attracting SpaceX to build a launch site in the area.^[9]

Further incentives were presented to SpaceX in September 2013 when the University of Texas System proposed that SpaceX partner with UT Brownsville's Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy in building and operating STARGATE.^[10]

STARGATE received a US$1.2 million grant from the US Economic Development Administration in October 2014.^[11]

Early in 2015, "the Brownsville Economic Development Council donated property^{[clarification needed]} at Boca Chica to the UT system for the STARGATE Technology Park."^[8] The dollar value of the in-kind funding for the property was not released.

Technology

As of October 2014^[update], STARGATE intends to develop new devices and new algorithms for tracking spacecraft, and intends to commercialize those technologies.^[12]

STARGATE plans to "test and commercialize a new phased-array antenna system that will replace fixed satellite-dish tracking communication systems."^[13]

References

^ "STARGATE | UTRGV". www.utrgv.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
^ "SpaceX leads space exploration renaissance, and jobs, in South Texas". San Antonio Express. 2017-01-20. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
^ "UTRGV Officials Unveil New STARGATE Technology Center near SpaceX Site". 2024-02-23. Archived from the original on 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-02-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Armendariz, Jacqueline (2013-09-23). "UT System proposes research partnership with SpaceX in Brownsville". The Monitor. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
^ "Brownsville's Growing Role In The Modern Space Race". Texas Standard. 2019-07-15. Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
^ ^a ^b "STARGATE to launch UTRGV as leader in space exploration research | The University of Texas System". www.utsystem.edu. 2014-09-23. Archived from the original on 2014-09-23. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
^ Perez-Treviño, Emma (2014-09-25). "SpaceX makes more moves". Valley Morning Star. Archived from the original on 2014-09-27. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
^ ^a ^b ^c PEREZ-TREVIÑO, EMMA (2015-03-12). "Fiber optics to link SpaceX, UT". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
^ Clark, Steve (2012-11-26). "'STARGATE' facility may be coming to Brownsville". The Monitor. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
^ Armendariz, Jacqueline (2013-09-23). "UT System proposes research partnership with SpaceX in Brownsville". The Monitor. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
^ "STARGATE to receive $1.2 million EDA grant". Brownsville Herald. 2014-10-06. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
^ "About STARGATE". UT Brownsville. University of Texas. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2014-10-09. 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.
^ SpaceX Breaks Ground on Launch Facility in Texas Archived 2017-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, September 2014.