SpaceX Announces $100 Billion Starbase Louisiana Launch Facility

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. announced plans on August 25, 2026, to construct Starbase Louisiana, a $100 billion spacecraft launch facility on the marshlands of Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish. Described as the largest capital investment in the state's history, the self-sustaining site will feature five launch complexes, propellant production, power generation, and residential housing. The facility aims to support a high-cadence launch schedule for the Starship vehicle, potentially enabling more than 30 flights per day.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with a target for the first launch in 2029. To support the project, SpaceX committed to a $25 million donation to the Community Foundation of Acadiana and a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement providing $25 million in the first year. Governor Jeff Landry praised the investment as a means to provide a permanent future of prosperity and claimed the project guarantees protection for the coast.

While the Port of New Orleans expects increased cargo volumes, the project has faced criticism from Pecan Island residents over its secretive nature and lack of community communication. Experts from Tulane University warned of environmental risks, including noise, spills, and the challenges of storing cryogenic propellants in the local climate. The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility clarified that it currently has no role in the project.