Elon Musk returns to Starbase after SpaceX IPO filing and Starship test flight

Elon Musk flew from Hawthorne, California, to Brownsville, Texas, on May 21, 2026, aboard his Gulfstream G650ER N628TS. The two-hour, 41-minute flight arrived at South Padre Island International Airport just after midday.

The trip came the same week SpaceX filed paperwork for what could be the largest initial public offering in history, per a filing reported by the Associated Press and Bloomberg. The filing, made public on May 20, targets a valuation of up to $2 trillion and includes plans to raise up to $75 billion ([click2houston.com](https://www.click2houston.com/business/2026/05/20/spacex-reveals-plans-for-what-could-be-the-biggest-ever-initial-public-offering/)). That same day, SpaceX conducted a Starship test flight from its Starbase facility near Brownsville, as captured by the AP ([click2houston.com](https://www.click2houston.com/business/2026/05/20/spacex-reveals-plans-for-what-could-be-the-biggest-ever-initial-public-offering/)).

Musk’s return to Starbase follows a pattern of heavy travel between California and Texas tied to SpaceX milestones. The Hawthorne facility is home to SpaceX headquarters, while Starbase serves as the primary development and test site for Starship. With the IPO roadshow set to begin June 4 and Starship still in development, Musk’s presence at both locations remains critical.