SpaceX and Louisiana announced Starbase Louisiana, a $100 billion, 125,000-acre spaceport with 10 Starship launch pads, targeting its first launch as soon as 2029.
SpaceX and the state of Louisiana announced plans to develop a high-cadence spaceport for Starship on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. According to SpaceX, the planned expansion — called Starbase Louisiana — will directly enable the company’s ability to launch Starship thousands of times per year. The announcement was made alongside SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and Susan Bourgeois of Louisiana Economic Development.
10 Launch Pads, a Deep-Water Port, and an Airport — All on One Site
SpaceX describes the spaceport as self-sustaining, “designed from the ground up to have everything necessary to dramatically increase the rate at which Starship can launch.” The site will include 10 Starship launch pads, deep-water shipping capabilities, vehicle processing facilities, and an airport.
| Quick Facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Starbase Louisiana, Vermilion Parish (Pecan Island area) |
| Launch pads | 10 |
| Investment | $100 billion (widely reported alongside the announcement) |
| Site size | Approximately 125,000 acres (widely reported alongside the announcement) |
| Jobs | More than 3,000 expected (widely reported alongside the announcement) |
| Construction start | As soon as next year |
| First launch | As soon as 2029 |
Why Louisiana: Onsite Natural Gas to Fuel Every Starship Launch
SpaceX pointed to a specific geographic advantage behind the choice of southern Louisiana: access to abundant natural gas, which the company says it will use both to power the site’s power stations and to liquify onsite into the liquid methane that fuels Starship.
First Launch Targeted for 2029, With Construction Starting Next Year
According to SpaceX, initial civil work at the site is expected to begin as soon as next year, with the first launch from Starbase Louisiana targeted as soon as 2029.
The Bigger Vision: Moon Cities, Mars, and an AI Initiative Called “Starmind”
SpaceX framed Starbase Louisiana as infrastructure for a much larger set of ambitions. In the company’s words, the site will “enable frequent missions to Earth orbit to support the expansion of internet connectivity, launch Starmind (AI data centers), build a city on the Moon, make life multiplanetary, and extend the light of consciousness to the stars.”
Community Commitments Alongside the Build
SpaceX said it has additional plans specific to Starbase Louisiana covering local hiring, community engagement and support, and environmental restoration and protection, directing interested readers to a separate page for details.