SpaceX to invest up to $100 billion in new Louisiana spaceport
SpaceX announced a $100 billion plan to build Starship manufacturing and launch facilities on a 125,000-acre site in southern Louisiana, with construction slated to start in 2027 and the first launch expected by 2029.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said Tuesday that SpaceX will commit up to $100 billion to develop Starship factories, launch pads and supporting infrastructure on a coastal parcel in the state. The project, described by SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell as a "self-sustaining spaceport" with on-site propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing and an airport, will be located near the town of Abbeville.
The site, known as Pecan Island, comprises roughly 125,000 acres, far larger than the company’s existing Starbase facility in Texas, which occupies about 350 acres. Officials said the location offers ample room for multiple launch towers, access to the Intracoastal Waterway for moving rockets and payloads, and a favorable geometry for polar-orbit missions.
SpaceX plans to begin construction in 2027 and aims for an inaugural launch from Louisiana by 2029. The company also intends to work with state and federal agencies on coastal-erosion mitigation, including breakwater projects that align with Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan.
Shotwell indicated that only a small portion of the land will be used for the spaceport, with the remainder preserved for wildlife and recreational activities such as fishing and hunting. The company pledged to create at least 3,000 jobs initially, with the potential to reach 10,000 as the development progresses.