SpaceX revealed on Tuesday its plans to construct a Starship rocket launch facility in southern Louisiana, an investment estimated at $100 billion aimed at enhancing the company’s satellite launch capabilities. The 125,000-acre site, referred to as Starbase, Louisiana, is designed to expand launch operations beyond the existing facilities in South Texas and Florida, with expectations of conducting thousands of Starship flights annually, according to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell.
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Construction is slated to begin in 2024, with the first anticipated Starship launch set for 2029. Shotwell announced these plans at an event near the proposed site in Vermilion Parish, attended by Governor Jeff Landry and other state officials. The new complex will feature a “self-sustaining” spaceport that will include its own propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping capabilities, vehicle processing facilities, and potentially an airport.
The site is significantly large, measuring over eight times the size of Manhattan. SpaceX's expansion efforts have also included the establishment of a Colossus AI data center in Tennessee and Mississippi, as well as Starlink facilities in Austin, Texas, with a chip plant planned for central Texas.
Governor Landry commented on the significance of the project, stating it represents an “inflection point” for Louisiana, bringing job opportunities and positive momentum for local communities. SpaceX indicated that more than 3,000 jobs will be created in the region as a result of the project.
Despite these advancements, SpaceX has encountered concerns from local residents about potential environmental impacts, water quality issues, and pressures related to land acquisition. The company has previously conducted launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; and Starbase, Texas, where it has focused on Starship development and test-launch activities.