SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica)Active

Home of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. Operational since 2023 and ramping toward an orbital cadence that could exceed all other sites combined.

25.9969°N
Latitude
97.1571°W
Longitude
10 m
Elevation
2023
First orbital

Site history

Owner / operator: SpaceX Founded: 2014 First orbital launch: 2023
Total orbital launches: ~5+ Annual launch rate: ~4/year Current vehicles: Starship / Super Heavy
Home of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. Operational since 2023 and ramping toward an orbital cadence that could exceed all other sites combined.

Orbital mechanics from 25.9969°N

A launch site's latitude determines which orbits are achievable and at what fuel cost. Starbase at 25.9969°N sets the following constraints:

Min inclination (due east)
26.0°
A rocket launched due east enters an orbit inclined at exactly the site's latitude. Going lower requires a fuel-expensive plane change.
ISS reachable?
Yes — 51.6°
A 25.6° dog-leg manoeuvre is needed from this latitude to reach the ISS's 51.6° orbit.
Sun-sync (SSO)
Achievable
Sun-synchronous orbits (~97–98°) require a slight retrograde tilt. A small retrograde azimuth is needed to reach the required ~97° inclination.
GTO efficiency
Good
Geostationary transfer orbit requires a low inclination. A 26.0° plane change is needed to reach the GEO belt, costing payload mass.

Satellite train visibility from Starbase

From 25.9969°N, Starbase can reach 5 Starlink inclination shells: 28.5° (equatorial belt), 43°, 53°, 70°, 97.6° SSO (polar).

Trains launched to higher inclinations are visible from more of the world. A 97° SSO train from Starbase would be visible at virtually every latitude; a 53° train is visible from latitudes up to ±46° (primarily) — mostly tropical and subtropical regions. In the hours after launch — before satellites raise their orbits — a tight train of 20–60 bright dots crosses the sky roughly every 90 minutes. Use OrbitalNodes' Starlink tracker for exact train pass times.

Orbital coverage — which latitudes can satellites from SpaceX Starbase fly over
90°S60°S30°SEquator30°N60°N90°N ISS 51.6° SpaceX Starbase Min inclination (26.0°) ISS band (±51.6°)

Starbase — Launch Site FAQ

Where is Starbase and who operates it?

SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica) is located at 25.9969°N, 97.1571°W in Texas, USA. It is owned and operated by SpaceX. The site has conducted approximately 5 orbital launches since its first in 2023.

What rockets launch from Starbase?

Current vehicles operating from SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica) include Starship / Super Heavy. Primary customers are SpaceX, launching Starlink (future), Lunar/Mars missions, point-to-point cargo.

What orbits can Starbase reach?

At 25.9969°N, Starbase's minimum achievable inclination is 26.0° (due-east launch). The ISS at 51.6° is reachable with a dogleg manoeuvre. The site can reach orbits between roughly 26° and 98° inclination.

Can I watch launches from Starbase?

Yes — SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica) hosts a moderate cadence of approximately 4 orbital launches per year. Viewing areas are open to the public for many launches. Rockets are often visible for several hundred kilometres after liftoff.

What satellites can I see that were launched from Starbase?

Satellites regularly launched from Starbase include Starlink (future), Lunar/Mars missions, point-to-point cargo. The ISS was supplied or crew-launched from sites at similar latitudes. Use OrbitalNodes to track any visible satellite in real time.

Why was Starbase built at this latitude?

Starbase at 25.9969°N was positioned to access the full range of low-Earth orbits including the ISS corridor. The site has been operational since 2023.

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