Science · Space exploration · published 2026-08-25 · via Space.com

SpaceX unveils $100 billion Starship launch complex in Louisiana

SpaceX and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced a $100 billion investment to build Starbase Louisiana, a new spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The facility will feature 10 launch pads, on-site propellant production, and support thousands of Starship launches per year. It is expected to become SpaceX's largest spaceflight operations center.

Expanded Detail

The Vermilion Parish site is designed around five complexes, each pairing two Starship launch towers with dedicated propellant farms, plus on-site natural gas access for fuel generation. Shotwell also cited deep water shipping, power generation, and an airport as components of the self-sustaining facility, positioning it as SpaceX's primary operations hub.

The timeline is ambitious: Starship's 14th test flight is slated for September, and NASA's Artemis III mission, targeted for mid-2027, requires a crew-certified lunar lander version of the vehicle. Artemis IV's 2028 moon landing adds further pressure. Musk has projected more than 30 launches daily by 2030, a cadence the company says existing Texas infrastructure cannot accommodate.

Context

This project could transform Louisiana's Gulf Coast economy, potentially bringing thousands of jobs and major infrastructure investment to a region historically dependent on oil and gas. Local communities may face rapid growth

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