In brief
SpaceX has announced a $100bn launch facility in Louisiana that will become its largest complex, covering 125,000 acres. The site will host thousands of Starship flights per year and create more than 3,000 jobs directly, with indirect employment boosting the region by 8,100. The project ties to SpaceX’s expanding footprint beyond its Texas base and Florida launch pad. Louisiana officials see it as a catalyst for economic growth, citing a wage premium of 192 per cent over local averages. The development follows SpaceX’s record‑setting IPO and other recent investments in AI and launch infrastructure.
Elon Musk’s rocket company has announced plans to build a sprawling launch site in Louisiana, a $100bn endeavour that will become SpaceX’s largest complex to date.
The facility, dubbed Starbase, Louisiana, will span 125,000 acres (over 50,000 hectares) and is set to begin construction next year, expanding beyond the company’s operations in Texas and Florida.
SpaceX says the launch pad will accommodate thousands of Starship missions annually, targeting Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. It plans the first Starship flight from the site in 2029.
The project will create more than 3,000 direct jobs, while Louisiana officials estimate an additional 8,100 indirect positions generated across the region. They note the average wage at the base would be 192 per cent higher than the current local standard.
Officials highlight the venture’s potential to transform Louisiana into a global aerospace hub, bolstering launch frequency and opening new avenues for space access.
The new facility shares its name with an existing SpaceX site on the Texas coast. In 2025, residents in Cameron County approved establishing a city named Starbase around the company’s testing grounds.
SpaceX’s investment spree follows its historic IPO in June, which cleared the Nasdaq’s record‑breaking debut. The company now faces investor scrutiny as it seeks profitability while scaling its launch ambitions and AI chip production at Texas’s Terafab project.
