SpaceX will construct a $100 billion launch facility called Starbase in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, spanning about 125,000 acres of coastal wetlands near Pecan Island [1, 2, 3]. Construction is planned to begin in 2027, with the first Starship launch expected as early as 2029, although one source suggests initial operations could come online by 2030 [1, 4, 2, 5].

Elon Musk said, "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!" [4]. The facility is designed to support thousands of Starship flights annually, with capacity for more than 30 launches daily [1, 6, 5].

The site will be self-sustaining, including production of methane propellant, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing, and an airport, as described by SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell: "The 'self-sustaining' spaceport envisioned by SpaceX will include its own methane production for propellant, power generation, deep-water shipping capabilities, vehicle processing facilities, and probably an airport" [2, 6].

Louisiana officials expect the project to create over 3,000 direct jobs and 8,100 indirect jobs locally, while Musk estimates total job creation could reach 10,000 [1, 2, 7, 3]. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said, "This project means more than just steel, technology, and capital. It represents jobs" [2]. According to Louisiana Economic Development, "The average wage of workers at the base would be 192% more than the region's current average salary" [1].

The land for the site was formerly owned by ExxonMobil and involved in a coastal wetland loss lawsuit that was settled and dismissed in mid-2026, allowing SpaceX to proceed [2, 3]. SpaceX will partner with state and federal agencies on coastal restoration to protect wetlands around the facility [4, 7, 3].

Starship remains in late-stage development, with 13 test flights completed through July 2026 [5, 8]. SpaceX will continue operations at existing Starship facilities in Texas and Florida, although launch activity in Florida will decrease until Starship missions resume there. SpaceX VP Kiko Dontchev noted, "From here on, Starlink missions out of Florida will fly on Starship" [9, 5].

The project is on track to begin construction in 2027, aiming for the first Starship launch from the Louisiana base by 2029.