STARGATE facts for kids
STARGATE is a special facility in south Texas. Its full name is Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission. It uses radio waves to study space.
This facility helps students and teachers learn about radio technology. This technology is very important for spaceflight and tracking satellites and spacecraft.
How STARGATE Started
The idea for STARGATE came from Fredrick (Rick) Jenet in 2012. He was a professor at the University of Texas at Brownsville. He also directed a group called the Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA).
The first money for STARGATE was US$500,000. This came from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation in October 2012. This money helped encourage SpaceX to build a launch site nearby.
In 2014, SpaceX decided to build its launch site near Boca Chica Beach. The Brownsville Economic Development Council bought land close by. They named this area the STARGATE subdivision. This land will be used for the STARGATE project. It will include a large tracking center, about 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) in size.
In early 2015, plans were made to connect the university to the STARGATE and SpaceX sites. This connection uses special fiber optic cables.
Later in 2015, the University of Texas at Brownsville joined with another university. They became the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. So, STARGATE is now part of this new university.
Funding for STARGATE
By March 2015, STARGATE had received about US$10.7 million in total funding. This money came from different places:
- US$4.4 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.
- US$4.6 million from the University of Texas System.
- US$1.2 million from the US Economic Development Administration.
- US$0.5 million from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.
The first US$500,000 helped bring SpaceX to the area. In 2013, the University of Texas System suggested that SpaceX work with STARGATE. This partnership would help build and run the facility.
In October 2014, STARGATE received US$1.2 million from the US Economic Development Administration.
In early 2015, the Brownsville Economic Development Council gave land to the university. This land is for the STARGATE Technology Park. The value of this land was not shared.
How STARGATE Uses Technology
As of October 2014, STARGATE plans to create new tools and methods. These will help track spacecraft better. They also want to sell these new technologies to other companies.
STARGATE aims to test a new type of antenna system. It's called a phased-array antenna. This new system will replace older, fixed satellite dishes. It will make tracking spacecraft easier and more efficient.
