SpaceX unveiled plans on Tuesday, August 26, 2026, to build its largest rocket launch complex yet in southern Louisiana. The $100 billion project will transform coastal wetlands on a 125,000-acre site on Pecan Island, named Starbase Louisiana, into a critical base for the company's Starship and AI satellite launch ambitions.

This new facility expands SpaceX's Starship launch operations beyond South Texas and Florida, where the next-generation rocket remains in late-stage development. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the second Starbase campus will eventually launch thousands of Starship flights annually, contingent on overcoming engineering and regulatory challenges.

Construction is set to begin in 2027, with the first Starship launch planned for 2029. The "self-sustaining" spaceport will include methane production for propellant, power generation, deep-water shipping to transport Starships from Texas, vehicle processing facilities, and potentially an airport.

The project, located on an 18-mile coastal strip in Louisiana's Vermilion Parish, has been in discussions with the state since February, according to Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois. SpaceX expects the site to add more than 3,000 jobs to the region, with an average salary of $92,600—192% higher than the average wage in Vermilion Parish.

Governor Jeff Landry and other senior state officials attended the announcement event. The governor's office highlighted the project's benefits, stating, "It represents jobs for our families. It represents momentum for our communities, and it represents protection for our coast."

Regarding environmental concerns, it was noted that while birds may fly away during launches, they return shortly after, emphasizing the company's commitment to "protection, restoration, and stewardship."

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk views Starship as central to expanding the Starlink constellation and deploying up to 1 million AI data-processing satellites in orbit. The rocket also plays a key role in NASA's Artemis moon program.

Sources