SpaceX intends to invest up to $100 billion in massive Louisiana spaceport

SpaceX is planning to construct a $100 billion "Starbase" spaceport in Louisiana, according to the company. The new launch site will be situated along the Gulf Coast in Vermilion Parish, west of New Orleans, and approximately 10 hours away from SpaceX's existing Starbase facility in South Texas. The investment comes after a seven-year search for a suitable location.

SpaceX aims to start construction in 2027, with initial operations expected to begin by the end of 2027, according to the state agency overseeing business development. The ambitious timeline calls for the first Starship launch in 2029, although the company still needs to demonstrate the capability of sending Starship into low-Earth orbit and making it reusable, similar to its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

Although SpaceX has conducted 13 test flights since 2023, the company has yet to successfully return both the booster and upper stage to the launch pad on a single flight, a crucial step for true reusability. Despite these challenges, SpaceX is betting heavily on Starship, with CEO Elon Musk stating that the Falcon rockets will be retired once Starship is flying multiple times per week.

The new spaceport is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs over a decade, along with 30,000 construction jobs at the peak of the buildout. The site is designed to be self-sustaining, featuring propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping capabilities, vehicle processing facilities, and an airport. Local officials are enthusiastic about the potential economic benefits and are working with SpaceX to minimize environmental impacts and enhance coastal protection.