SpaceX to build $100 billion Starship rocket complex in Louisiana

SpaceX announced ambitious plans Tuesday to construct its largest rocket launch complex to date in southern Louisiana, a $100 billion venture that will transform coastal wetlands into a key base for the company's Starship and AI satellite launch ambitions.

The 125,000-acre site on Pecan Island, designated Starbase Louisiana, represents an expansion of SpaceX's Starship launch operations beyond its existing facilities in South Texas and planned sites in Florida. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated the new campus will eventually support thousands of Starship flights annually, a goal contingent on overcoming significant engineering and regulatory challenges.

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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.

Construction is slated to begin next year, with the inaugural Starship launch anticipated in 2029. Shotwell outlined the vision for a "self-sustaining" spaceport, which will include on-site methane production for fuel, independent power generation, and deep-water shipping access for transporting Starships from Texas. The facility will also house vehicle processing areas and potentially an airport.

The chosen marshland site, over eight times the size of Manhattan, was previously at the center of a lawsuit against ExxonMobil concerning coastal wetland loss. Following a settlement with Exxon, the land is now cleared for SpaceX's plans. Governor Jeff Landry highlighted the project's economic benefits, emphasizing job creation and community momentum, with the over 3,000 projected jobs expected to carry an average salary of $92,600, significantly above the regional average.

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