SpaceX is set to invest $100 billion in a new launch facility on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The company claims this project could eventually enable thousands of launches each year.
The planned "Louisiana Spaceport" will be located in Vermilion Parish and is expected to be SpaceX's fourth and largest launch site. Construction is set to start in 2027, with the first launch anticipated as early as 2029.
Once fully operational, the site will feature five launch complexes, each with two launch pads and a propellant farm. The plans also include facilities for propellant production, power generation, vehicle processing, and housing for employees and their families.
The Gulf Coast location is crucial for SpaceX’s aim to increase the launch frequency of its reusable Starship system. Louisiana officials highlighted that the site offers ample natural gas, large land areas, and launch paths over the Gulf of Mexico.
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, mentioned, "We’re preparing to build a spaceport that, until now, has only existed in science fiction."
Musk's vision is to make space travel as common as flying commercially, with the Louisiana site supporting missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, and eventually Mars.
Starbase, Louisiana will be built to support thousands of Starship flights a year with missions launching to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond pic.twitter.com/SE6gyNZWBK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2026
The project is projected to create 3,000 direct jobs over ten years, with an average annual salary of $92,600, according to Louisiana Economic Development. Additionally, state officials estimate an extra 8,100 indirect jobs could be generated, resulting in more than 11,000 jobs overall.
For Louisiana, this project adds to the state's historic ties with the U.S. space program. The Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans made stages for the Saturn V rockets used in the Apollo program and now supports NASA’s Artemis lunar program.
“SpaceX’s decision to build here confirms what we’ve always known: this state has the workforce, the industrial capacity, the energy supply, and the location to lead the next era of space exploration,” stated Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc.
The new facility is also connected to Louisiana’s working Gulf Coast. It will be built on a former Exxon property, repurposing the industrial site for commercial use. State officials noted that workers and companies from the oil and gas sector could provide a strong industrial base for the project.
SpaceX is collaborating with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, and other agencies to tackle potential impacts on fisheries, wildlife, and coastal habitats. The company plans to partner with local conservation groups as the project progresses.
Louisiana is offering an incentive package that depends on SpaceX meeting its investment and job creation goals, which includes a $25 million charitable contribution to the Community Foundation of Acadiana. SpaceX is also expected to qualify for state aerospace and high-impact job incentives.
Under a separate agreement, SpaceX will pay local taxing bodies $25 million annually for 25 years, with payments increasing over time, in addition to an upfront payment of $20 million. Louisiana officials estimate this agreement will generate over $820 million in direct local payments.
The Louisiana site will greatly expand SpaceX's launch capabilities as the company transitions Starship from development and testing to regular operations. Besides traditional satellite launches, SpaceX envisions the facility eventually facilitating launches for orbital data centers, enhanced satellite internet services, and missions to the Moon and Mars.