SpaceX will build the largest launch site on Earth in southern Louisiana to expand its Starship launch capacity [1, 2].
The project represents a massive scaling of orbital infrastructure, aiming to enable thousands of Starship flights per year [5, 6]. This expansion is central to the company's broader ambitions for frequent, high-volume space flight.
Elon Musk announced the plan Tuesday, Aug. 25, alongside Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) and Economic Secretary Susan Bourgeois [1, 2]. The complex will be located in Vermilion Parish, occupying an 18-mile stretch of Gulf-coast marshland [3, 4].
"This will be the biggest launch site on Earth," Musk said [7].
The estimated cost of the project is $100 billion [4, 5]. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the first Starship launch expected to take place in 2029 [2, 5].
Reports on the exact size of the site vary slightly. Some sources place the area at 125,000 acres [3], while other estimates suggest it is around 130,000 acres [4].
The facility is designed to support a flight cadence that would dwarf current spaceport operations. By establishing a dedicated hub in the U.S. Gulf Coast, SpaceX intends to streamline the deployment of its heaviest rocket system [6].
“"This will be the biggest launch site on Earth."”
The establishment of a $100 billion facility in Louisiana indicates a shift from experimental Starship testing to an industrial-scale transportation model. By targeting thousands of flights per year, SpaceX is preparing for a logistical infrastructure capable of supporting permanent lunar bases or Mars colonization, while simultaneously creating a massive economic and environmental footprint in the Louisiana marshlands.
