STARGATE

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 {{USD|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.{{Cite web |date=2017-01-20 |title=SpaceX leads space exploration renaissance, and jobs, in South Texas |url=https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/SpaceX-leads-space-exploration-renaissance-and-10872954.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705055911/https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/SpaceX-leads-space-exploration-renaissance-and-108729 |archive-date=2022-07-05 |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=San Antonio Express}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-23 |title=UTRGV Officials Unveil New STARGATE Technology Center near SpaceX Site |url=https://www.krgv.com/videos/utrgv-officials-unveil-new-stargate-technology-center-near-spacex-site/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |archive-date=2024-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223075212/https://www.krgv.com/videos/utrgv-officials-unveil-new-stargate-technology-center-near-spacex-site/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{cite news |last1=Armendariz |first1=Jacqueline |date=2013-09-23 |title=UT System proposes research partnership with SpaceX in Brownsville |url=http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_c3fd447a-24ad-11e3-8c0e-0019bb30f31a.html |accessdate=2014-10-07 |work=The Monitor}}{{Cite web |date=2019-07-15 |title=Brownsville's Growing Role In The Modern Space Race |url=https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/brownsvilles-growing-role-in-the-modern-space-race/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716135153/https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/brownsvilles-growing-role-in-the-modern-space-race/ |archive-date=2019-07-16 |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=Texas Standard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2014-09-23 |title=STARGATE to launch UTRGV as leader in space exploration research {{!}} The University of Texas System |url=https://www.utsystem.edu/news/2014/09/22/stargate-launch-utrgv-leader-space-exploration-research |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923152235/https://www.utsystem.edu/news/2014/09/22/stargate-launch-utrgv-leader-space-exploration-research |archive-date=2014-09-23 |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=www.utsystem.edu |language=en}} 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.

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 Starbase totaling {{convert|2.3|acre}} approximately {{convert|2|mile}} 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 {{convert|12000|ft2|m2}} tracking center.{{cite news |last1=Perez-Treviño |first1=Emma |title=SpaceX makes more moves |url=http://www.valleymorningstar.com/premium/article_c1ae2e84-452f-11e4-b0a5-001a4bcf6878.html |accessdate=2014-09-27 |work=Valley Morning Star |date=2014-09-25 |archive-date=2014-09-27 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140927152259/http://www.valleymorningstar.com/premium/article_c1ae2e84-452f-11e4-b0a5-001a4bcf6878.html |url-status=live }}

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.

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.{{cn|date=April 2023}}File:SpaceX Starbase ground tracking station in Boca Chica, Texas.jpg

{{asof|2015|03}}, the grants to fund STARGATE have totaled approximately {{USD|10.7 million}}, consisting of:

• {{USD|4.4 million}} from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund
• {{USD|4.6 million}} from the University of Texas System
• {{USD|1.2 million}} from the US Economic Development Administration
• {{USD|0.5 million}} from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.{{cite news|last1=PEREZ-TREVIÑO|first1=EMMA|title=Fiber optics to link SpaceX, UT|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/article_8a56f706-c930-11e4-aaf2-f7515fbb1749.html|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=Brownsville Herald|date=2015-03-12}}

STARGATE was initially funded by {{USD|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.{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Steve |title='STARGATE' facility may be coming to Brownsville |url=http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_38ec45de-3845-11e2-9f2c-001a4bcf6878.html |accessdate=2014-10-07 |work=The Monitor |date=2012-11-26 |archive-date=2014-10-07 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141007175613/http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_38ec45de-3845-11e2-9f2c-001a4bcf6878.html |url-status=live }}

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.

{{cite news |last1=Armendariz|first1=Jacqueline |title=UT System proposes research partnership with SpaceX in Brownsville |url=http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_c3fd447a-24ad-11e3-8c0e-0019bb30f31a.html |accessdate=2014-10-07 |work=The Monitor |date=2013-09-23 }}

STARGATE received a {{USD|1.2 million}} grant from the US Economic Development Administration in October 2014.{{cite news |title=STARGATE to receive $1.2 million EDA grant |url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_c622c65a-4dd1-11e4-8768-0017a43b2370.html |accessdate=2014-10-07 |work=Brownsville Herald |date=2014-10-06 |archive-date=2014-10-07 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141007123610/http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_c622c65a-4dd1-11e4-8768-0017a43b2370.html |url-status=dead }}

Early in 2015, "the Brownsville Economic Development Council donated property{{clarify|what is the extent of the parcel? where is it located?|date=October 2019}} at Boca Chica to the UT system for the STARGATE Technology Park." The dollar value of the in-kind funding for the property was not released.

{{asof|2014|10}}, STARGATE intended to develop new devices and new algorithms for tracking spacecraft, and intends to commercialize those technologies.{{cite web |title=About STARGATE |url=http://www.utb.edu/stargate/Pages/STARGATE.aspx |website=UT Brownsville |publisher=University of Texas |accessdate=2014-10-09 |date=2014 |quote=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. |archive-date=2014-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017190741/http://www.utb.edu/stargate/Pages/STARGATE.aspx |url-status=live }}

STARGATE planned to "test and commercialize a new phased-array antenna system that will replace fixed satellite-dish tracking communication systems."[http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/09/23/spacex-breaks-ground-launch-facility-texas/ SpaceX Breaks Ground on Launch Facility in Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610013448/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/09/23/spacex-breaks-ground-launch-facility-texas/ |date=2017-06-10 }}, September 2014.

• European Space Tracking
• ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network
• NASA Deep Space Network
• Near Earth Network
• Space Network
• Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network station
• Starlink – a satellite constellation that provides both backhaul and direct internet service, and which utilizes phased-array antenna technology for the terrestrial transceivers

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.utrgv.edu/stargate/ STARGATE webpage], at UT Brownsville.
• [http://www.valleybusinessreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/VBR_May2015_new.pdf Stargate 1: Rocket Science and the RGV], following inaugural STARGATE Talk, May 2015.
• [http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/about-utrgv/news/press-releases/2016/july-06-high-school-astronomers-shoot-for-the-stars-during-utrgv-s-stargate-academy/index.htm UTRGV’s STARGATE Academy], July 2016.
• [http://www.krgv.com/story/32567441/spacex-to-bring-2-satellites-to-rgv Two large satellite-tracking ground stations antennas to Boca Chica], July 2016.

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{{SpaceX}}

{{University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley}}

Category:University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Category:Astronomical observatories in Texas

Category:Radio astronomy

Category:University of Texas at Brownsville

Category:SpaceX facilities