Elon Musk to turn oil rigs into floating SpaceX launchpads Elon Musk's SpaceX has bought two oil rigs to convert into launch pads for its rockets. It’s usual practice for astronauts to splashdown in the water on their return from space, but up until now they’ve at least been able to take off from solid ground. However, this could all be about to change, after it was reported that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has bought two oil rigs to be converted into floating launch platforms for SpaceX rockets. The rigs, which were originally designed for offshore deepwater drilling, are currently being fitted out as launchpads in the Texan port town of Brownsville.