SpaceX plans to build a $100 billion Starbase spaceport in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, with construction scheduled to start in 2027. The company is aiming for the first Starship launch from the Gulf Coast site in 2029.
The proposed development would support thousands of launches each year, according to reports from The Register and TechCrunch. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project could create 3,000 direct jobs and 8,100 indirect jobs over the next decade.
The site would be built for high-volume launches
Plans call for five launch complexes. Each would have two launch pads and a propellant farm, creating a 10-pad layout across the site.
- Five launch complexes with two pads and one propellant farm each
- Propellant manufacturing facilities
- Power-generation equipment
- Deep-water shipping facilities and vehicle processing
- An airport
Together, that infrastructure points to an operation designed to assemble, fuel and move vehicles at a much larger scale than a single test range.
The project depends on Starship and a vulnerable coast
Starship testing currently takes place at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas, and the vehicle had not reached orbit when these plans were reported. A Louisiana launch base would give the company another Gulf Coast location if Starship becomes operational. The economic stakes are substantial for Vermilion Parish, while the planned cadence relies on a vehicle proving it can fly and be reused reliably.
The site sits on a coast where SpaceX identifies erosion ranging from 3.3 to 23 feet per year. The company says the development will include shoreline protection, marsh restoration and wildlife-preservation efforts. Louisiana agencies responsible for wildlife, fisheries and coastal protection have engaged with SpaceX on potential environmental effects.
Several central details remain unsettled. SpaceX still needs local, state and federal approvals, and it has not specified the final project cost or funding arrangements. The construction timetable could change, while the final environmental impact and required mitigation have yet to be established. It also remains unclear whether Starship can deliver the performance and reusability needed to sustain thousands of launches annually.
