SpaceX will build a $100 billion spaceport in Louisiana, calling it the future site of the world’s largest launch complex.
The facility, named Starbase Louisiana, will rise from the marshland of Vermilion Parish along the Gulf Coast.
Louisiana officials announced the project on Tuesday, describing it as a pivotal moment for the state’s economic future.
The spaceport will become SpaceX’s fourth and largest site, anchoring the company’s expanding Starship launch program.
Starship is SpaceX’s fully reusable rocket system, designed eventually to carry humans toward the moon and Mars.
At full capacity, the complex will house five launch sites, each with two pads and fuel storage.
Governor Jeff Landry said the deal would place Louisiana at the center of a new spaceflight frontier.
Elon Musk said the company was building something that, until now, existed only within science fiction.
The billionaire entrepreneur said the goal is making space travel as ordinary as commercial air travel.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch targeted for 2029.
The project promises 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade, paying an average salary near $92,600.
Officials estimate more than 8,100 additional indirect jobs, pushing total employment impact above 11,100 positions.
Louisiana was chosen for its abundant natural gas, open land, and favorable Gulf Coast launch trajectories.
The site will eventually support orbital data centers, expanded satellite internet, and deep-space missions.
Under a 25-year agreement, SpaceX will pay Vermilion Parish $25 million annually in local taxes.
The company will also make a $20 million upfront payment to local taxing authorities.
Officials project the arrangement will generate more than $820 million in direct community payments.
SpaceX further pledged $25 million to the Community Foundation of Acadiana, a local philanthropic group.
Residents of Vermilion Parish will also receive a 50% discount on Starlink internet service.
The announcement marks another major expansion for Musk’s space company beyond its Texas operations.
