The proposed site of a facility for Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp., where the world’s first privately-owned commercial rocket-launching complex would be located, consists of 87 acres in four tracts along state Highway 4 at Boca Chica Boulevard.

The California-based space exploration firm has leased slightly more than half the land, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, and additionally owns about a quarter of the tracts on the site, as shown in public deed records providing information about property ownership in the area.

Cameron County owns a minor portion of the land on the proposed site.

“Let’s just get them here,” Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos says. “I am sure we can negotiate an agreement that is beneficial to both parties.”

Texas’ U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Friday told the Valley Morning Star, “SpaceX and other aerospace entrepreneurs play an important role in our nation’s space exploration efforts.

“This facility will spur instruction and training in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields and encourage younger Texans to become involved in developing the next generation of space technologies.”

SpaceX has proposed the construction of facilities to support the orbital launch of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, which would carry commercial and experimental payloads, including satellites, to the International Space Station.

The rockets also could carry a capsule, such as the SpaceX Dragon.

All launch trajectories would be to the east, over the Gulf of Mexico.

The proposed site is about five miles from South Padre Island and 17 miles from downtown Brownsville, and consists of four main parcels.

• PARCEL 1: This is about four acres, where the control / command center area starts. It is located the farthest from the proposed vertical launch area, and is bounded on the southeast by Boca Chica Boulevard and on the southwest by Remedios Avenue. SpaceX has purchased this land.

• PARCEL 2: This is 4.4-acres bounded on the southeast by Boca Chica Boulevard, on the south by San Martin Boulevard, and on the northwest by Esperson Street. Cameron County owns the land and is ready to negotiate with SpaceX.

• PARCEL 3: This, too, is about four acres, closest to the proposed vertical launch area. It is located northeast of Eichorn Boulevard. The land is privately owned. It could not immediately be determined if it has been leased.

• PARCEL 4: SpaceX already has leased this tract of about 56.5 acres as its primary launch site, and purchased about 27 acres. This is located adjacent to the eastern terminus of State Highway 4; it is south of Brazos State Park, about 18 miles east of Brownsville, and about 3 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border on the Texas Gulf Coast.

The launch site totals about 19 acres inside the perimeter fence, nine acres of which would contain the launch site and related improvements. The rest of the property would remain open space.

The goal is to initiate unmanned launches at the site by the fourth quarter of 2015, according to public records about the proposal.

SpaceX recently said it looks forward to making a decision on the site this year, following completion of the EIS.

eperez-trevino@valleystar.com