SpaceX Announces $100 Billion Louisiana Spaceport Project
SpaceX plans to build its second spaceport for the Starship rocket at an Exxon site in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. The project is expected to begin construction by late 2027 and could see initial operations start as early as 2030 according to state officials. SpaceX claims it will invest $100 billion into this new facility, which aims to support frequent Starship launches starting in 2029. The company is still working on proving the rocket's reusability and orbital capabilities after multiple test flights since 2023. CEO Elon Musk has stated that once Starship reaches a launch rate of several times per week, SpaceX will retire its Falcon rockets. The project also aims to create thousands of jobs in Louisiana over the next decade. The new spaceport is expected to be self-sustaining with infrastructure for propellant production and power generation. However, concerns remain about safety after numerous injuries at the Texas Starbase site.
