Andrea Leinfelder

Search our maps of Elon Musk’s expanding Texas empire across 500 properties From rockets to Cybertrucks, Elon Musk’s Texas footprint spans 6,000 acres and 500+ properties. See every site on our interactive maps.

Using a first-of-its-kind data tool, the Houston Chronicle has mapped out every property that Musk’s companies own in Texas.

We found more than 500 properties across 6,000 acres. Our maps show Musk's sprawling, ambitious and ever-changing empire.

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Meet the Houston mom of two who’s on track to fly to the moon or even Mars Houston native Anna Menon, who was inspired by a fourth-grade NASA field trip and has already flown to space on a SpaceX mission, has been selected as one of NASA’s newest astronaut candidates.

Meet Anna Menon -- a Houston native, private astronaut, mom of two and now one of NASA's newest astronaut candidates.

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Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars Texas A&M University geologist Mike Tice was on the international team of scientists that analyzed data from NASA's Perseverance rover that found a potential sign of past microbial life on Mars.

Texas A&M researcher helped NASA discover potential signs of past life on Mars

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A rock on Mars could suggest tiny life once existed on the Red Planet, NASA says NASA's Perseverance rover found a rock with "leopard spots" on the Red Planet that could have been created by ancient microbial life.

"This finding, by our incredible Perseverance rover, is the closest we've actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars."

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From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data Houston's Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, Cognitive Space and Little Place Labs are  focused on the growing market of harnessing data collected in space.

From astronauts to algorithms: Houston companies are betting big on space data.

They’re developing artificial intelligence for satellites, data centers that will circle the Earth and a communications network for the moon.

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SpaceX launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews The SpaceX Starship rocket, the world’s most powerful rocket, took its 10th flight test from Starbase, Texas, on Tuesday.

SpaceX successfully launches 10th Starship test as Trump eyes looser environmental reviews

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Dinosaur footprints spotted while clearing debris from Central Texas floods Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.

Volunteers and private landowners clearing debris from last month’s deadly flood in Central Texas have made an unexpected discovery: dinosaur footprints.

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NASA tells John Cornyn Houston is getting a space shuttle. But which one? The future of space shuttle Discovery and its possible move to Houston remains murky after officials put out a series of vague statements Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

NASA tells Sen. John Cornyn it’s moving a shuttle to Houston, but nobody is saying which one

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Space Shuttle Discovery's move to Houston in limbo as deadline looms The One Big Beautiful Bill Act gave NASA Administrator Sean Duffy until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. Will space shuttle Discovery come to Houston?

NASA has until Sunday to identify a space vehicle to rehome. The Big Beautiful Bill was written with the intention of moving space shuttle Discovery to Houston, but the Smithsonian is fighting back:

“The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery."

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SpaceX Crew-11 launches to ISS for 25th anniversary mission Members of the Crew-11 mission – NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov – launched from Florida in a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Three astronauts and a cosmonaut launched toward the International Space Station Friday, beginning a mission that will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the platform sheltering humans in space.

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YouTube video by NASA NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch

NASA is watching the weather, but Crew-11 is preparing for liftoff in 2 minutes:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IL...

SCRUB for weather

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Launch Coverage of the Launch of the NASA/SpaceX Dragon and Crew-11 to the International Space Station (Cardman, Fincke, Yui, Platonov; launch scheduled at 12:09

Crew-11 is about to launch. Time to tune in!

plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-vi...

Italian firm with Formula One roots is fueling growth at this Houston bolt maker Houston Precision Fasteners, which makes bolts, nuts, pin rivets and other fasteners for the aerospace industry, is grappling with increased demand and constricted supply.

The aerospace industry needs more fasteners -- bolts, nuts, washers, pin rivets, etc. -- and this is positioning Houston Precision Fasteners for growth, thanks to its new Italian ownership with roots in Formula One racing.

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San Jacinto College joins Intuitive Machines in biopharma training program San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines are creating a workforce development program for technicians to handle biopharmaceuticals returned from space.

San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines are creating a workforce development program for technicians who will handle biopharmaceuticals after they are returned from space.

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Congress delivers $10 billion to NASA, saving Houston-led program from Trump cut The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block.

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” has nearly $10 billion earmarked for NASA – including funding for a Houston program that was on the chopping block – as lawmakers push back against President Donald Trump’s proposed NASA budget cuts.

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Houston could get a famed NASA space shuttle thanks to the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz got language into President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" that creates a path for getting a space shuttle to Houston.

Houston could get a famed NASA space shuttle thanks to Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

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See NASA astronaut Don Pettit's stunning photos and experiments from the ISS NASA astronaut Don Pettit, an energetic tinkerer and photographer, used his off-duty time on the International Space Station for photography and the 'science of opportunity.'

NASA astronaut Don Pettit is an energetic tinkerer and photographer. He’s designed a zero-g coffee cup, turned a vacuum hose into a didgeridoo and written the astronauts’ guide for space photography.

His last mission was about the "science of opportunity."

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A new SpaceX city approved zoning. Here’s how it could affect Texas landowners. Starbase, the new SpaceX city in South Texas, approved a new zoning ordinance this week. Some properties are now designated as "open" and cannot be developed.

Starbase approved new zoning rules. Here’s how it could affect land not owned by SpaceX.

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This Houston company hopes to open spaceflight to people with diabetes Houston’s Axiom Space launched its fourth human spaceflight mission on Wednesday. One of the mission’s experiments hopes to open spaceflight to people with diabetes.

Houston’s Axiom Space launched its fourth human spaceflight mission, Ax-4, at 1:31 a.m. CDT. One of the mission’s roughly 60 science experiments looks to open spaceflight to people with diabetes.

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Texas will soon have a company developing nuclear fusion for space travel Pulsar Fusion, a U.K.-based firm attempting to unlock nuclear fusion to power space travel, is opening its first U.S. location in the Austin area.

Pulsar Fusion, a U.K.-based firm attempting to unlock nuclear fusion to power space travel, is opening its first U.S. location in the Austin area.

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One final Father’s Day gift: A trip into space with this Houston company Kelly Dreyer is giving her dad one final Father’s Day gift: A trip into space. Houston-based Celestis is sending  more than 150 cremated remains and DNA samples into space later this month.

One final Father’s Day gift: A trip into space with this Houston company’s memorial service

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A leak on the space station is delaying the launch of commercial astronauts NASA is delaying Houston-based Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station due to a leak on Russia’s Zvezda service module.

NASA announced Thursday that it is delaying Houston-based Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station due to a leak on Russia’s Zvezda service module. Four commercial astronauts were scheduled to be on the mission.

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A Houston VC firm's portfolio company went public. What it means for space. A portfolio company for Houston-based venture capital firm SpaceFund went public this week. It could signal a shift in space investing.

Why is the Voyager Technologies IPO important?

"The ability for investors to make money is going to fuel the rest of the space industry," said Meagan Crawford.

It's the first time Houston-based VC firm SpaceFund is distributing money to investors, too.

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Texas Space Commission will hold the power to close SpaceX road, beach Texas legislators approved $300 million in grant money for the Texas Space Commission and gave it new authority to close highways and beaches during the final days of the state’s legislative...

Texas legislators approved $300 million in grant money for the Texas Space Commission and gave it new authority to close highways and beaches “to promote space-related industries” during the final days of the state’s legislative session.

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Musk is touting plans to land on Mars. Here’s what experts say is realistic. Elon Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, has a bold vision for sending Starship to Mars. Experts weigh in on what's realistic and what's overly optimistic.

Elon Musk plans to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars next year. Here’s what the experts say is realistic.

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Mars prioritized by Trump administration in detailed NASA budget NASA's 2026 budget has the Johnson Space Center losing fewer jobs than other centers. But it's also trading well-establish programs for a riskier bet on Mars.

How NASA's budget request would affect Houston:

-21% reduction in civil servants, smaller than other centers
-ISS funding down 25%. Also less money for research and commercial crew/cargo
-Houston would co-lead a new $350 million Mars Technology Program

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Trump is pulling his nomination for the next chief of NASA A White House spokeswoman confirmed that President Donald Trump is pulling his nomination for tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.

President Donald Trump is pulling his nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.

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KBR to open a food lab at NASA’s Exploration Park in Houston NASA contractor KBR will open a 45,000-square-foot food lab at NASA’s Exploration Park, a hub for commercial space companies, researchers and manufacturers.

KBR is planning a food lab at NASA's Exploration Park.

KBR will study food safety and shelf life. It wants to reduce the mass and volume of food, and it envisions an area where space companies can test food warmers, rehydrators and kitchen galleys.

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Houston-based company achieves ‘a world first’ during rocket engine test Houston-based Venus Aerospace flew a rotating detonation rocket engine last week, proving a key technology for the high-speed plane it's developing.

Venus Aerospace recently flew a new type of rocket engine -- one that has eluded scientists for decades. Here's what that could mean for the Houston company as it develops a high-speed plane that would go from Los Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.

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