A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket touches down at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida after launching the Transporter-2 rideshare mission to orbit, on June 30, 2021. (Image credit: SpaceX)
THE BAHAMAS will become part of SpaceX history later this month when a Falcon 9 rocket booster lands off the coast of The Exumas.
In a statement, Tourism Minister Chester Cooper confirmed a Bahamian delegation is meeting with SpaceX officials as the country finalizes preparations for the historic landing on February 17. This milestone will make The Bahamas the first international destination to host a Falcon 9 landing, he said.
The partnership between The Bahamas and SpaceX signals the nation’s entry into the space tourism industry, with 20 scheduled landings on autonomous drone ships in Bahamian waters. Mr Cooper said the exclusive collaboration is expected to bring economic and technological advancements to the country.
The delegation includes senior officials from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, and the Port Department. Mr Cooper said officials will oversee safety, regulatory, and operational protocols throughout the launch and landing process.
The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (MOTIA) signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) in February last year.
According to its statement at that time, the LOA established a strategic collaboration that positions The Bahamas as a global destination for witnessing booster landings.
"SpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous droneships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas," the 2024 statement read.
"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."
Comments
bahamianson 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Go Elon !!
TalRussell 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Stop with Dishonesty...BAHAMAS is DONE a part SpaceX's Starship history.
An upgraded version of SpaceX's Starship exploded in space over the Bahamas roughly eight minutes into the company's seventh flight test from Texas on Thursday. It sent fields of blazing debris for miles across the sky over the Turks and Caicos, a British Overseas Territory.
"My mirror and the walls were shaking," said Veuleiri Artiles, a woman who was working in South Caicos when the debris fell. "It was like when you're on an airplane... my ears were rattling."
"It felt like an earthquake," said Ibalor Calucin, who lives on the territory's Providenciales island. "It was scary... all of the people here in our apartment ran to the parking lot."
January 17, 2025 3:05 PM PST Updated 19 days ago.
ThisIsOurs 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Exactly my point when this was first announced. "What are the risks". I'm truly beginning to fear for us. It used to be if someone put 100 in a tshirt that you could feel and touch you'd sell your soul, it now looks like the promise of air is enough to sell your soul and the souls of generations yet to come
We didnt even think before the dollar signs flooded our eyes. And everybody went down this long dark rabbit hole of. omg what does space garbage mean for tourism???
Sounds eerily familiar to the COVID everybody get your plans ready, home porting is coming!!! This is a game changer. The port, a junkanoo museum? this is amazing. The port is now raking in dollars ... out the country... competing with local event sites and taken control of the one tangible thing that uniquely defines us. Yay! We dont "see"... some call it "vision"
Right in the investors back pocket. Downwind.
birdiestrachan 1 month, 3 weeks ago
What about the fish will there be damage?
AnObserver 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Only if they aren't wearing their space helmets.
bahamianson 1 month, 3 weeks ago
vell Muddos, now that was funny!!
ExposedU2C 1 month, 3 weeks ago
You really cracked me up with that humdinger. You have @birdie shopping for an affordable space helmet on Amazon.
IslandWarrior 1 month, 3 weeks ago
SpaceX has made significant advancements in commercial spaceflight, but in many ways, it remains experimental, particularly in areas related to new vehicle development, landing operations, and long-term sustainability. While its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets are operational and reliable, newer technologies—such as Starship, rapid reuse systems, and offshore landings—are still in testing phases and carry inherent risks.
TalRussell 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Me question to Exuma's newly elected Local Government -- Was your Local Government --- Even offered Central Government funding as to Rocket landings posing potential real risks to people and property, as well as to the beaches, sea waters and what's below them. -- Watch the reaction for any sudden mind changes in the Pigs. -- Me wager 10 Shillings Bank Note that not a single individual designated as part of the government delegation will be traveling to Exuma --- Have been in contact with anyone in the Turks and Caicos Islands. --- Yet Exumanians' are expected to welcome and trust them. -- Yes?
bahaymeeun 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Lol, the Pigs will be fine!
ExposedU2C 1 month, 3 weeks ago
And if the pigs do get char-broiled, the great people of Exuma who manage to survive the rocket fallout will get enjoy a pork feast at the beach!
DiverBelow 1 month, 3 weeks ago
What about the toxic exhaust from the rocket engines? Research it!! Would not want to be downwind of any landing, botched or successful.
zemilou 1 month, 3 weeks ago
As Musk tweeted on January 16, 2025 after the explosion: "Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed! ✨"
TalRussell 1 month, 3 weeks ago
How bad is rocket pollution? Depends how much of the Trump and Elon....loopiness you have inhaled post 2024 Presidential and Prime Ministerial Elections. --- Think the President and Prime Minister - may have attended one too many Rocket launches and landings.
Trump's newly minted third degree of loopiness, Ambassador Herschel Walker, will be in Exuma for the February 17 Rocket landing event. -- The very thought is me makin' up these toxic things. --Yes?
moncurcool 1 month, 3 weeks ago
What is historic about this? We have had landings in The Bahamas before from the Apollo time.
Dawes 1 month, 3 weeks ago
I think they need to send more Senior officials from government agencies. Why the downtown Nassau Partnership people not there? The cost does not matter, due to the benefits we can get. And with only this small delegation of 20-100 people we won't get the full benefits.
ExposedU2C 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Unfortunately for the likes of corrupt PM Davis, sleazy Fwreddy Boy Mitchell, Vomit Christie, Wicked Witch Maynard-Gibson, Bag Man Bethel, and so on, no amount of Bahamian government cozying up to Elon Musk will in any way deter or stop what President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio and Florida Governor DeSantis already have in store for our nation.
Most U.S, citizens is no longer perceive The Bahamas to be an ally of the U.S. and supporter of its strategic and national security interests. We, the Bahamian people, are therefore going to pay a very dear price for having consistently elected, to government, corrupt politicians who have had a most lax attitude over many decades to illegal aliens, human trafficking, drug smuggling, etc., not to mention our nation’s support of the strategic interests of the ChiComs in their ongoing war against the U.S. for the spread of their communist agenda aimed at achieving global economic and military supremacy for the very evil Chinese Communist Party.
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