Featured Image Source: Elon Musk

SpaceX teams are working around-the-clock to develop the next-generation launch vehicle – Starship. SpaceX founder Elon Musk envisions a fleet of hundreds of Starships embarking on a voyage to colonize Mars. Starship prototypes are under construction at the company’s South Texas facility located at Boca Chica Beach village in Brownsville, TX. These prototypes are undergoing a series of tests that will offer engineers insight towards the development of a space-ready Starship. 

Musk calls Boca Chica Beach the "Gateway to Mars" and aims to transform the small village into a spaceport and resort, where employees could enjoy living and working towards the development of the spacecraft that will transform humans into a multiplanet species. –"SpaceX is committed to developing revolutionary space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Boca Chica Village is our latest launch site dedicated to Starship, our next-generation launch vehicle. SpaceX is committed to developing this town into a 21st-century Spaceport," the company wrote in an August job listing, seeking to hire a 'Resort Development Manager.'

SpaceX is rapidly expanding into a rocket factory; giant Vehicle Assembly Buildings are under construction alongside multiple shiny stainless-steel Starship vehicles. Resort-like amenities have also been established, including an outdoor restaurant that features food trucks with warm meals for employees. Today, Musk shared a photograph of a 'Tiki Bar' where employees can go to grab a beverage after a long work day. "Starship nosecone, high bay & tiki bar," he captioned three photographs via Twitter, shown below.

Starship nosecone, high bay & tiki bar pic.twitter.com/9qXYxMMIUj

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2020

Earlier this year, SpaceX posted a job listing seeking a "project coordinator” to "make Boca Chica, TX an epic place to live and work." The job application said they will be responsible for managing a "SpaceX Village" that will feature bookable rooms and activities, like volleyball tournaments, kayaking, and even "spaceport lounge events and parties." The coordinator would be responsible for "the final layout and operation of the spaceport lounge (restaurant and bar) while working closely with food services" and planning all the events at the SpaceX Village. An aerial image of the SpaceX Village and spaceport under construction is pictured below.

Image Source: NASA

SpaceX teams are preparing to test launch a Starship prototype, called SN8. Starship SN8's nosecone will be installed in the coming days. -"Data from 3 engine Starship static fire this morning looks good. Proceeding with nosecone mate," Musk shared on Tuesday, after SN8's Raptor engines passed a crucial ignition test meant to ensure the engines work well ahead of flight. Starship SN8 is expected to become the first fully-assembled vehicle to conduct a high-altitude test flight at the Boca Chica launchpad. It will fly 50,000 feet (15-kilometers) above the ground and attempt a controlled landing soon.

Data from 3 engine Starship static fire this morning looks good. Proceeding with nosecone mate.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2020

SpaceX ignites Starship SN8's three Raptor engines for the first timehttps://t.co/3AefjZbtvd

— Tesmanian.com (@Tesmanian_com) October 20, 2020