SpaceX Announces 100 Billion Dollar Starbase Louisiana Spaceport

SpaceX and Louisiana state officials announced plans on August 25, 2026, to build a $100 billion spaceport called Starbase Louisiana in Vermilion Parish, along the Gulf Coast.

The facility is planned on a former Exxon property and is designed to be SpaceX's largest center for spaceflight operations. It will eventually feature five complexes, each containing two launch pads, for a total of 10 launch pads. The site will include on-site propellant production, power generation, vehicle processing facilities, deep-water shipping capabilities, and a dedicated airport.

SpaceX and the state project the facility will create approximately 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade, with thousands of additional indirect jobs. Elon Musk has suggested the project could eventually bring nearly 10,000 jobs to the region.

The spaceport is central to SpaceX's goal of significantly increasing its Starship launch cadence. Musk has targeted a rate of more than 30 Starship launches per day by 2030 to support the Starlink network, orbital data centers, and interplanetary exploration.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with initial launch operations targeted for 2029. Louisiana Economic Development has indicated operations may come online in 2030.

Earlier in 2026, Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation providing financial incentives for aerospace manufacturers, exempting certain projects from public review, and classifying unauthorized entry into a spaceport as a felony.

The project has drawn mixed reactions from local residents, some of whom expressed frustration about the secrecy of the planning process. SpaceX has committed to partnering with state and federal agencies to support the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, including shoreline protection and marsh restoration efforts.