SpaceX plans to invest $100 billion in a new spaceport in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, on land acquired from Exxon.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with initial flight operations targeted for 2029.
The site will include five launch complexes, propellant production, power generation, vehicle processing facilities, and employee housing.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has announced plans to invest $100 billion in establishing a cutting-edge spaceport in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, as part of the company’s broader strategy to scale up Starship rocket production and launch capabilities.
Dubbed Starbase Louisiana, the facility will span coastal land purchased from Exxon. Site preparation and infrastructure development are slated to begin in 2027, with the first flight operations anticipated by 2029, according to company officials.
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“This is a transformative milestone for Louisiana,” said Governor Jeff Landry in a press release. “With over $250 billion in new investment flowing into our state, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of the global space economy. We have the skilled workforce and infrastructure to achieve remarkable goals, generating employment opportunities across land, sea, and space.”
Upon completion, Starbase Louisiana will serve as SpaceX’s fourth and largest spaceport, complementing existing launch facilities in South Texas, Florida, and California. The complex will house five launch complexes with ten individual launch pads, along with propellant production and storage units, power generation systems, vehicle assembly and processing buildings, and on-site residential accommodations for staff.
The initiative aligns with Musk’s vision to dramatically increase launch frequency to support Starlink satellite deployments and future lunar and Martian missions. SpaceX projects the Louisiana hub will generate 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade, offering an estimated average annual salary of $92,600 per position.
In related developments, SpaceX continues to explore the deployment of orbital computing platforms. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission initiated a public consultation on a SpaceX proposal to launch up to one million satellites intended for space-based data center operations.
“We’re building a spaceport that pushes the limits of today’s imagination,” Musk stated. “At SpaceX, our mission remains to make life multiplanetary. That vision becomes reality when traveling to space becomes as routine as taking a commercial flight. Starbase Louisiana will be instrumental in making that future possible.”
