SpaceX commits $100 billion to second Starbase spaceport in Louisiana
The company plans to construct a self-sustaining launch facility in Vermilion Parish, targeting initial operations by 2030 and creating thousands of jobs.
SpaceX has announced a $100 billion investment to construct a second spaceport for its Starship rocket in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. The new facility will be built on a former Exxon property along the Gulf Coast, west of New Orleans, ending a seven-year search for a suitable location. The site is approximately 10 hours from the company’s existing Starbase complex in South Texas.
According to the company, construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, with the first Starship launch targeted for 2029. The Louisiana Economic Development agency, which oversees business development in the state, offers a slightly more conservative timeline. It projects that construction will begin by the end of 2027, with initial operations expected to come online in 2030.
The economic impact of the project is significant for the region. The Louisiana Economic Development agency anticipates the creation of 3,000 direct jobs over 10 years, with an average annual salary of $92,600. Additionally, more than 30,000 construction jobs are expected at the peak of the buildout. Vermilion Parish Police Jury President Chad Vallo described the project as a lifetime opportunity that would provide employment for local residents and their descendants.
SpaceX intends to develop the site as a “self-sustaining spaceport.” The facility will feature propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping capabilities, vehicle processing facilities, and an airport. This infrastructure is critical for the company’s plans to retire its Falcon rockets once Starship is flying multiple times per week, a transition already communicated to prospective customers.
The expansion supports SpaceX’s broader strategic goals, including the growth of its Starlink satellite internet service and a planned network of AI processing satellites. The company has spent more than $8 billion developing Starship, according to filings submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite 13 test flights since 2023, SpaceX has yet to successfully return both the booster and upper stage to the launch pad on a single flight, a requirement for full reusability.
To address environmental concerns, SpaceX has engaged the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. The company is partnering with state and federal agencies to expand Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan and Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act projects, which include shoreline protection breakwaters designed to reduce wave energy and erosion.
