SpaceX plans $100 billion spaceport in Louisiana

SpaceX announced on Tuesday that it will construct a massive new launch facility in Louisiana, a project the company says will support thousands of annual Starship rocket launches and represents an investment of up to $100 billion. The development, named Starbase, Louisiana, will be built on a former ExxonMobil property in Vermilion Parish along the Gulf Coast, near Pecan Island.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with SpaceX targeting the site's first Starship launch as early as 2029. The facility is planned to be SpaceX's fourth and largest launch site, featuring five launch complexes at full buildout. Company founder and CEO Elon Musk described an ambitious long-term vision, stating the site will ultimately have more than a dozen launch towers to support more than 30 Starship flights per day, making it the world's largest launch site.

The project is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade with an average annual salary of $92,600, according to Louisiana Economic Development. State officials estimate an additional 8,100 indirect jobs could be generated, bringing the total employment impact to more than 11,000 positions. SpaceX President Gwynne...