LOS FRESNOS, Texas — “It’s incredible that the future of space travel is happening right here in our backyard,” said Los Fresnos resident Daniel Sanchez as he drives towards Starbase on State Highway 4.
For the last decade, Elon Musk and his private venture SpaceX have garnered plenty of attention at his rocket testing facilities located in the most southern tip of Texas near Boca Chica. At Starbase, Musk is working to carry out his mission to send cargo and humans to Mars.
“At the beginning of this year is when I decided to start coming out here and documenting what’s happening here,” said Sanchez, a retired teacher and avid photographer, who now documents all things SpaceX.
Sanchez, like countless other SpaceX fans, gets close to the testing site to get a glimpse of the future.
“I never really stopped here,” said Sanchez at the intersection of Highway 4 and Remedios Street. “There’s was security there. I would just drive by. I always assumed it was private property. I would just keep going and get access.”
SpaceX security made a habit of blocking public access at the location until the Cameron County District Attorney got involved in June.
“I thought it was kind of odd. In my mind I kind of knew it was public property,” said Sanchez.
Public watchdog group SAVE RGV filed a legal complaint against SpaceX. County investigators looked into the matter. In detailed written letter by District Attorney Luis Saenz, he told SpaceX they were breaking the law by taking over a road owned by the public. SpaceX listened and immediately reopened two public roads, they previously held hostage from the public.
With the public roads reopened, curious onlookers like Sanchez are happy the DA took action, giving back what belongs to the taxpayers.
“It’s incredible. It’s surreal experience to drive up or walk up there,” said the photographer. “And literally stand less than 100 feet from those prototypes.”
Sanchez was standing at what seems like an arm’s reach to the 15-story SpaceX prototype rockets SN15 and SN16. We asked Sanchez about the real possibility access this close to history might be shut down again.
“I would be disappointed because it is crazy to think you can get this close. I’m sure we are the envy of all these other people that follow space travel,” said Sanchez.
In emails sent to county officials, SpaceX expresses interest in to permanently closing the very road where Sanchez gets his shots of history in the making.
“In the meantime, I am going to come out here and take as many photos as I can while it’s still public. We shall wait and see what happens,” he said.