STARGATE

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.

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.

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

[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.

The STARGATE main facility, between Texas State Highway 4 and the SpaceX High Bay, March 2023
The two SpaceX-owned S-band antennas being used by UT RGV for radio astronomy, as seen in spring 2023