SpaceX has announced plans to build a major new launch complex for its Starship program in Louisiana. The project, called “Starbase Louisiana,” would be located in Vermilion Parish near Pecan Island on the state's southern coast. An official Louisiana Economic Development announcement published on August 25, 2026 says the investment could reach $100 billion and describes the planned facility as SpaceX's fourth and largest launch site in the United States.
Construction is targeted for 2027
The official schedule calls for construction to begin in 2027, with the first Starship launch targeted for 2029. Reuters and the Associated Press reported the same timetable, citing the company and state officials. The facility is not yet operational, and these dates remain targets that depend on construction, permitting and technical progress.
The proposed site covers 125,000 acres, or about 50,600 hectares, in coastal Louisiana. Reuters reported that the self-sustaining complex is expected to include methane production for propellant, power generation, deep-water shipping facilities, vehicle processing areas and possibly an airport. Starship vehicles could be transported by water from Texas, while rocket manufacturing is not currently planned for the Louisiana site.
A long-term goal of thousands of launches
SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said the facility could eventually support thousands of Starship flights each year. That statement is a long-term ambition rather than an existing operating capacity. Starship remains in development, and the company's only active Starship launch location is its current Starbase site in South Texas. SpaceX is also preparing launch pads in Florida.
Louisiana officials expect the project to create more than 3,000 direct jobs over a decade. Reuters reported that the positions are projected to pay an average annual salary of $92,600. The Associated Press also reported that state lawmakers approved tax incentives connected to the development. The investment, employment and wage figures are projections supplied by the company and the state, not completed outcomes.
Environmental questions remain
Pecan Island sits within a sensitive coastal landscape used by migratory birds. SpaceX says large portions of the property will remain undeveloped and that the company will support coastal protection, restoration and stewardship. Reuters noted that SpaceX's expansion in South Texas has previously faced opposition from residents and environmental organizations concerned about water, noise and habitat effects.
Anne Rolfes, director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, told the Associated Press that she was concerned about the project's speed and the need for a transparent public process. SpaceX has said it plans to hold town halls and other community events in the coming months. Permitting, environmental review and local participation will therefore be important parts of the project's development, alongside its economic scale.
Why the project matters
Starbase Louisiana would expand SpaceX's Starship operations beyond Texas and the launch infrastructure being built in Florida. The company wants to increase the pace of missions using the reusable Starship system, including satellite deployments. However, the projected annual launch volume and the 2029 first-launch date are forward-looking plans. The site's eventual capacity will depend on construction progress, regulatory approvals, environmental assessments and Starship's continued technical development.
