SpaceX is committing $100 billion to develop the world’s largest spaceport on coastal land in Louisiana. The company states that the new Starbase Louisiana facility will become its fourth and largest launch site, with a capacity to support thousands of launches annually at full buildout.
The development is planned to feature five launch complexes, with each complex containing two pads and a propellant farm. Additionally, the site will include a propellant production facility, power generation infrastructure, vehicle processing areas, and housing facilities for employees and their families.
The project is projected to create 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade, offering an average annual salary of $92,600, which is 192% above the local Vermilion Parish average. Furthermore, the development is expected to generate over 8,100 indirect jobs, bringing the total to more than 11,100 new opportunities in the Acadiana region.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the announcement a pivotal moment for the state, noting that the investment pushes Louisiana beyond $250 billion in new investments and positions the state at the center of the aerospace industry. SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk emphasized the vision behind the project, describing plans to build a spaceport designed to make space travel as routine as flying on an airplane.
Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in 2027, with initial flight operations targeted to launch as soon as 2029.
