While Antigua is demanding the payment of taxes from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Belize is limiting its expansion, officials announced this week that the Bahamas, a fellow CARICOM nation, will allow a returning rocket to land off its coast on Feb. 17.
The mini archipelago just off Florida is getting ready to make aviation space history by allowing the Falcon-9 rocket to touch down off Exuma Island, one of the many tourist locations in the Bahamian chain.
Announcing the collaboration with Musk’s SpaceX, Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper said advanced talks are underway with the company for the historic landing on the tourists’- favored location. The minister says the Bahamas will be the first international destination to host such a landing.
“This historic event, set to take place off the coast of The Exumas, marks a significant leap for The Bahamas into space tourism. This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas’ position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry.”
Musk was recently controversially appointed by President Trump as his unelected government efficiency czar to cut spending and prune employment levels at various US departments.
The government says that the CARICOM bloc member nation could host up to 20 rocket booster landings off the coast in the coming months, and a legal agreement covering this key exercise has already been negotiated and signed. Authorities say the arrangements will provide opportunities to promote STEM science education in the country and boost tourism interest in The Bahamas.
As expected, locals have also been assured that the landings will take place in the Atlantic and away from populated areas as they offered safety assurances to locals and tourists.
“The relevant senior officials will remain on hand during the launch sequence and launch and ascent. They are fully engaged to ensure all safety, regulatory, and operational measures are in place for the scheduled landing. Every effort is being made to facilitate this historic event while maintaining the highest standards,” the government statement noted.
Meanwhile, officials in the nearby Turks and Caicos Islands say they will also monitor the landings, given that debris from a failed SpaceX rocket actually made it onto a playing field and other areas during a launch last month.
Still, Prime Minister Phillip Davis’s administration says the country is ready to host international landings.
“The agreement establishes The Bahamas as a premier destination for Falcon 9 booster landings, which will be visible exclusively from Bahamian waters. In addition to promoting tourism, the collaboration supports SpaceX’s Starlink missions, aimed at enhancing disaster response capabilities and connectivity in underserved areas of the Family Islands. SpaceX has also committed to several community initiatives, including STEM education programs and a space exhibit featuring SpaceX hardware,” the government stated.
