SpaceX plans $100bn rocket complex in Louisiana wetlands

SpaceX has unveiled ambitious plans to build its most extensive rocket launch complex to date in southern Louisiana, a sprawling $100 billion facility intended to become a critical hub for the company's Starship program and artificial intelligence satellite launches. The site, named Starbase Louisiana, will encompass 50,585 hectares of coastal wetlands on Pecan Island, marking SpaceX's fourth launch location in the United States.

“

The Starbase campus will eventually launch thousands of Starship flights a year

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated that Starbase Louisiana is projected to launch thousands of Starship flights annually. Construction on the marshland site, which is more than eight times the size of Manhattan, is scheduled to commence next year, with the inaugural Starship launch anticipated in 2029. The envisioned "self-sustaining" spaceport includes plans for its own methane production for propellant, power generation, deep-water shipping access, vehicle processing facilities, and potentially an airport. SpaceX also emphasized that significant portions of the land will be preserved as natural wetlands, free from infrastructure.

The development of this site follows a decade-long legal dispute involving Exxon Mobil concerning coastal drilling and its contribution to wetland loss in the area. An agreement reached between the state and Exxon in June paved the way for SpaceX's plans, which the company had been discussing with Louisiana officials since February, according to Susan Bourgeois, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary.

“

large portions of the land will remain natural wetlands with no infrastructure

Elon Musk's company has been expanding its presence in the southern U.S., with existing AI data centers in Tennessee and Mississippi and Starlink facilities in Texas. Louisiana Governor Landry highlighted the project's broader impact, stating, "This project means more than just steel, technology and capital. It represents jobs for our families. It represents momentum for our communities and it represents protection for our coast." SpaceX estimates the Louisiana site will generate over 3,000 jobs, with an average salary of $92,600, which is 192% higher than the average local wage.

“

This project means more than just steel, technology and capital. It represents jobs for our families. It represents momentum for our communities and it represents protection for our coast.