SpaceX plans to construct a $100 billion orbital launch base in southern Louisiana, marking the largest capital investment in state history and positioning the U.S. as a key node for deep-space and polar satellite missions.
The proposed Starbase facility, located near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, would occupy roughly 50,000 to 52,600 acres of coastal wetlands currently held by ExxonMobil. The energy company acquired the land in the 1950s, and its availability follows the resolution of a long-standing federal lawsuit related to coastal damages, though terms of the transfer remain undisclosed.
The complex would feature five launch complexes, each equipped with two pads, alongside integrated infrastructure for propellant production, power generation, vehicle processing, and deep-water navigation. A dedicated airport and residential neighborhoods for employees are also planned to support self-sustaining operations.
Construction is slated to begin by the end of 2027, with the first Starship launch projected for 2029 and full operational capability targeted for 2030. Launches would head south over the Gulf of Mexico and into polar orbits, enabling the deployment of up to one million data-center satellites for SpaceX’s orbital internet constellation.
The project aligns with SpaceX’s broader strategy to expand launch capacity beyond existing hubs in southern Texas and Cape Canaveral, Florida. Governor Jeff Landry and state officials have signaled support for the initiative, which would bring significant economic and technological development to Louisiana’s Gulf Coast region.
In the near term, SpaceX plans to begin launching upgraded Starlink satellites to enhance internet capacity starting this year, while orbital data centers are slated to commence operations in 2027. The facility would also support NASA’s Artemis program, with potential lunar surface landings for astronauts as early as 2028.
