Musk’s Texas Ad Astra School Fails To Meet Inspection Deadlines Again

Elon Musk’s Ad Astra school in Bastrop, Texas, has delayed its opening after inspections were postponed for a second time.

According to Business Insider, the school had previously announced its opening for this summer and began accepting applications for students in July. However, the school twice postponed site inspections by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

HHSC was scheduled to conduct a site inspection on August 27 to determine if the school met the standards for operating as a licensed childcare facility. However, Ad Astra requested a delay to September, and more recently, requested another postponement to October 4. The reason for these delays was not disclosed by the HHSC.

Ad Astra, which means “to the stars,” plans to enroll students between the ages of three and nine and is located on a 40-acre site that was formerly used as a horse ranch. Despite the delays, the school’s website says it will open this fall.

Musk previously co-funded another school, also called Ad Astra, in 2014. That school was originally intended to educate his children and the children of SpaceX employees. The original Ad Astra has since become a nonprofit online school based at SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

In addition, Musk has also expressed his intention to establish a university in Texas and has already donated around $100 million to the cause, although it is unclear when he plans to open it.