SpaceX has revealed plans to establish a second spaceport for its Starship mega-rocket on a former Exxon site in Louisiana, concluding a seven-year quest for an ideal launch location.
The new launch facility will be located on the Gulf Coast in Vermilion Parish, situated to the west of New Orleans and approximately a 10-hour drive from the company’s current Starbase facility in South Texas. SpaceX is set to invest $100 billion into this project, with construction slated to commence in 2027, and expects the inaugural Starship launch to occur in 2029.
Louisiana Economic Development (LED), which oversees business initiatives in the state, projects a more conservative timeline, indicating that construction may begin by the end of 2027, with initial operations anticipated to commence in 2030.
Prior to these developments, SpaceX continues to work on proving the Starship’s capability to reach low-Earth orbit and achieve reusability similar to its existing Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Since 2023, SpaceX has conducted 13 Starship test flights, accomplishing several development milestones, but still has significant progress to make.
The forthcoming 14th test flight could be the first to send Starship’s upper stage into orbit. However, the company has yet to successfully return both the booster and the upper stage back to the launch pad in a single mission, a fundamental step for achieving true reusability. SpaceX also needs to demonstrate that it can recover and refurbish the vehicle rapidly enough to meet its ambitious goal of launching multiple Starships each week.
Despite these challenges, SpaceX remains committed to the Starship program. Recently, founder and CEO Elon Musk stated that the Falcon rockets would be retired once Starship is capable of flying several times weekly. His remarks align with earlier reports that the company is communicating with potential customers about the anticipated conclusion of the Falcon program.
According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SpaceX has invested over $8 billion in the development of Starship, which is the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. This rocket is essential for sustaining and expanding one of SpaceX’s most profitable ventures, the Starlink satellite internet service. The company is also planning an extensive satellite network aimed at AI processing, which will rely on Starship for launches.
The new Starbase site is projected to create 3,000 direct jobs over a decade, with an average annual salary of $92,600, as stated by LED. Additionally, over 30,000 construction jobs are expected at the height of the project.
It remains uncertain if SpaceX will establish a company town similar to its Texas site, which has been rebranded as Starbase. This community has its own ZIP code, volunteer fire station, and is developing a police force and library, all overseen by a local government predominantly comprised of SpaceX employees or their relatives.
SpaceX aims to create a “self-sustaining spaceport” at the new site, featuring facilities for propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing, and an airport.
As a combination of a launch complex and an active construction site, the Texas Starbase location has reported high injury rates over the past decade, marking it as the most hazardous site operated by SpaceX. The company has documented hundreds of injuries to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, including a recent tragic incident involving a third-party contractor.
Vermilion Parish Police Jury President Chad Vallo expressed enthusiasm about the project, noting the job opportunities it will bring to the community and the potential for future generations to find employment locally.
SpaceX has faced scrutiny regarding its impact on the local environment around its Texas site but has proactively engaged with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, along with other relevant state agencies, to address potential environmental impacts in Louisiana.
The company is collaborating with state and federal agencies to enhance Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan and related projects aimed at protecting coastal wetlands and mitigating shoreline erosion.
