Commercial aerospace giant SpaceX announced on Tuesday its plans to invest $100 billion into a massive launch site along the southern Louisiana coast, marking the company’s largest infrastructure project to date as it prepares for high-cadence rocket operations.
The proposed 125,000-acre development, named “Starbase, Louisiana,” will be set up in coastal Vermilion Parish, roughly 200 miles west of New Orleans.
Construction on the site is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the company targeting its inaugural Starship launch from the location as early as 2029.
Speaking alongside Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry at an event in Abbeville, SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell detailed a self-sustaining facility designed for long-term operational autonomy.
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At full buildout, the complex is expected to host five launch centers alongside on-site propellant production, dedicated power generation, vehicle handling facilities, and an airport.
The Rockets are said to be shipped to the site via deep-water transit routes rather than manufactured locally.
In a video statement screened during the announcement, SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk framed the expansion as a critical step toward routine spaceflight, later writing on social media that the facility could eventually feature over a dozen launch towers to handle up to 30 flights daily.
State leaders welcomed the proposal as a major economic milestone because according to state economic development officials, the project is projected to create 3,000 direct positions paying an average annual salary of $92,600, which is roughly triple the regional median and support an estimated 8,100 indirect jobs across the Acadiana region over the next decade.
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The announcement follows the dismissal of a long-standing coastal land lawsuit involving former property owner ExxonMobil, clearing title access to the expansive marshland tract.
However, the rapid push into coastal wetlands has prompted concern among regional environmental groups.
Local advocates urged state authorities to establish transparent public hearings, emphasizing that Pecan Island acts as a vital buffer against storm surges and a key sanctuary for migratory wildlife.
Addressing environmental concerns, Shotwell pledged that large portions of the acreage will remain undisturbed marshland.
She stated SpaceX intends to partner with state wildlife and coastal protection agencies to support local habitat conservation and shoreline restoration initiatives.