SpaceX is putting $100 billion into Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. They are building a massive new site called Starbase, LA. It will be their fourth and largest launch facility, and the plan is to launch Starship rockets thousands of times a year.

A New Space Coast

A rendering of Starbase, LA; Photo: SpaceX

Additionally, SpaceX is building a self-sustaining city. When finished, it will have five launch complexes with two pads each. It is also building fuel production facilities, an airport, deep-water shipping access, and housing for employees.

Construction kicks off in 2027. If everything stays on schedule, the first launch will happen by 2029.

SpaceX already does a lot, from running Falcon rockets and Starlink internet to building massive AI computer networks. Starbase LA is strictly focused on scaling up Starship to eventually reach the Moon and Mars.

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“We’re preparing to build a spaceport that, until now, has only existed in science fiction,” SpaceX Founder & CEO Elon Musk said. “SpaceX was founded to bring about a future where humans are out exploring amongst the stars, which will only be possible when we make going to space as routine as flying on an airplane.”

A Boost for Louisiana

SpaceX plans to create 3,000 direct jobs over the next ten years. The average pay will be $92,600, which is almost triple the local average. The state thinks the site will also bring over 8,100 indirect jobs.

“Today is a pivotal moment for Louisiana. This announcement pushes our state beyond $250 billion in new investment and puts us at the center of the next great frontier,” Governor Jeff Landry said. “We have the people and talent to build what the world once thought impossible, creating jobs on land, across the Gulf and through space. Our job creation knows no bounds. This is America First. This is Louisiana First. I want to thank Elon Musk and the entire SpaceX team for choosing Louisiana.”

The biggest hurdle right now is how the shoreline is quickly washing away. To handle this, SpaceX says they are preserving nearby wetlands, like Pecan Island, and working with groups to restore the marshlands instead of building over everything.