VERMILION PARISH — SpaceX announced plans to build a $100 billion Starship launch complex in southern Louisiana. The facility will be located on a 125,000-acre site on Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish.

SpaceX named the new facility "Starbase Louisiana." Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, and the first Starship launch from the Louisiana site is targeted for 2029. Louisiana Economic Development stated that initial operations are expected to come online in 2030.

The announcement event took place in Abbeville, Louisiana, with Governor Jeff Landry and other state officials. The site will be SpaceX's fourth launch facility in the United States, joining existing locations in Texas, Florida, and California.

Shotwell described the project as a self-sustaining spaceport with propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping capabilities, vehicle processing facilities, and an airport. She added that SpaceX plans to keep very large portions of the land as natural wetlands with no infrastructure. The Louisiana site will not include rocket production facilities.

SpaceX stated the project will create more than 3,000 jobs in the region. Louisiana Economic Development stated the new jobs will have an average annual salary of $92,600. This figure is 192% higher than the average wage in Vermilion Parish. Elon Musk stated in a video that the company would bring probably 10,000 jobs to Louisiana.

"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." Governor Jeff Landry said. Landry likened the impact of the new launch site to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.

SpaceX stated it had been discussing the site with the state since February 2026. The search for a suitable site took about seven years. The site was formerly owned by ExxonMobil and was the subject of a decade-long lawsuit regarding wetland loss. The state of Louisiana settled the lawsuit with ExxonMobil in June 2026, and the case was dismissed in July 2026.

Pecan Island is a protected hub for dozens of migratory bird species. Environmental groups stated that Starship launches at Starbase Texas have criticized shorebirds and their nests with gravel and debris. In 2024, a state agency stated that SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act at its Texas launch facility by repeatedly releasing pollutants.

SpaceX stated it will help fund environmental protection, restoration, and stewardship during construction. The company has engaged the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to address potential impacts to wildlife and habitats. She stated it is partnering with state and federal agencies to expand Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan and Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act projects.

Why It Matters

The $100 billion investment represents an expansion of commercial space infrastructure, aiming to increase launch cadence from three Falcon 9 flights per week in 2025 to more than 30 Starship flights per day. The project introduces high-wage employment to a rural parish where the average salary for new roles is nearly triple the local baseline, while raising questions about environmental stewardship in a sensitive coastal ecosystem.

SpaceX has performed 13 test flights of Starship since 2023 and has spent more than $8 billion developing the vehicle, according to SEC filings. The transition to Starship involves retiring Falcon rockets once the new vehicle flies multiple times per week, shifting Starlink missions from Cape Canaveral to the new Louisiana site and Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Timeline

There were 165 Falcon 9 launches in 2025, about three flights per week, and about 75 percent of those launches carried Starlink satellites.

SpaceX hit its 100th mission of the year on August 19, 2026, with a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. On August 25, 2026, Elon Musk stated that Starbase Louisiana will ultimately have over a dozen launch towers, enabling more than 30 Starship flights per day and making it the biggest launch site on Earth. Also on August 25, SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev stated that a Falcon 9 launch on Tuesday was the last planned Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral until Starship missions begin, and SpaceX President Shotwell said the facility will eventually support thousands of Starship flights per year.

What's New

SpaceX stated it plans to retire the Falcon rockets once Starship is flying multiple times per week. Dontchev added that from here on, Starlink missions out of Florida will fly on Starship, while the West Coast team will continue regularly launching Starlink from Vandenberg. Governor Jeff Landry likened the impact of the new launch site to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, and Elon Musk stated in a video that the company would bring probably 10,000 jobs to Louisiana.

How Sources Differ

Regarding the scale of the Louisiana launch starship project, Elon Musk stated that Starbase Louisiana will ultimately have over a dozen launch towers, enabling more than 30 Starship flights per day and making it the biggest launch site on Earth.

On the topic of she stated falcon starship transitions, SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev stated that a Falcon 9 launch on Tuesday was the last planned Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral until Starship missions begin. An additional source stated that SpaceX plans to retire the Falcon rockets once Starship is flying multiple times per week.