Elon Musk is extending SpaceX's footprint across the southern US, with the aerospace and tech giant outlining a $100 billion (£73.29 billion) launch complex in Louisiana.
According to a joint statement released on Tuesday by the Louisiana Economic Development office, SpaceX plans to build its Starbase at a former Exxon location in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, designed to 'support thousands of launches annually'. Meanwhile, SpaceX stock climbed around 2% to end the day at $137.95 (£101.11).
Once operational, 'Starbase, LA' will become the a major launch site for Starship, the fully reusable next-generation rocket SpaceX is developing, which stands as the largest ever built.
Musk's ambitions include a massive expansion of SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, the launch of orbital data centres and the eventual colonisation of Mars. Both these plans, and much of the reasoning behind SpaceX's roughly $2 trillion (£1.47 trillion) market valuation, rely on Starship succeeding.
Thousands of Launches and New Jobs
According to a video released on SpaceX's website on Tuesday, finding a location that allowed for launch pad construction alongside access to sufficient operational fuel took around seven years. In the footage, Musk remarked that the proposed spaceport will create 'probably 10,000 really exciting jobs' in Louisiana.
Introducing Starbase, Louisiana – a high-cadence launch site that will enable Starship to open a pathway to the stars for humanity.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2026
Thank you to @LAGovJeffLandry and the great people of Louisiana for all of their support as we work together on this audacious project →… pic.twitter.com/hq308hvg2g
An online fact sheet provided by the state of Louisiana indicates that SpaceX should generate roughly '3,000 direct new jobs over the next 10 years' within the state, as well as '8,100 indirect new jobs.'
SpaceX Promises Coastal Restoration
SpaceX confirmed it will work alongside the state on 'historic coastal restoration' efforts to 'bring the marsh back' and ensure nearby wetlands feature 'storm protection'.
Laws signed earlier this year by Republican Governor Jeff Landry exempt certain Louisiana aerospace projects from public oversight while establishing felony penalties for trespassing on spaceport grounds. The measures also introduced financial incentives for aerospace developers.
Louisiana Follows Texas Starbase Backlash
The company has faced local backlash, legal challenges and environmental fines connected to its first Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, located in the company town now called Starbase.
Starship's first test flight in Texas in April 2023 resulted in the rocket blowing apart SpaceX's concrete launch pad and destroying the spacecraft mid-flight. Chunks of concrete were scattered across key nesting and migration sites for endangered species, with fire consuming about 3.5 acres of Boca Chica State Park land south of the pad.
In 2024, a state agency issued a notice of violation finding that SpaceX breached the Clean Water Act at its Texas facility by repeatedly releasing pollutants into or near water bodies through its water deluge system.
SpaceX Expands Across the Southern US
SpaceX's move into Louisiana continues Musk's footprint shift from California to Texas, Tennessee and Mississippi, with the company noting Louisiana as its fourth launch location.
Starbase, Louisiana will be built to support thousands of Starship flights a year with missions launching to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond pic.twitter.com/SE6gyNZWBK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 25, 2026
Prior to building out the Colossus data centres and a power plant in Greater Memphis under his SpaceXAI venture, Elon Musk moved Tesla's corporate headquarters from California to Austin, Texas. The automaker now runs a major vehicle assembly plant in Austin, where it is testing autonomous Cybercab vehicles alongside its driverless Robotaxi service.
Meanwhile, Tesla and SpaceX plan to construct a massive AI chip manufacturing site in Grimes County, Texas.
