SpaceX will build a second, $100B 'Starbase' spaceport in Louisiana | TechCrunch

SpaceX has announced plans to construct a massive second launch facility, valued at $100 billion, on a former industrial property in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.

This major expansion follows a seven-year search for a suitable location along the Gulf Coast, positioned roughly ten hours away from the company's primary Starbase complex in South Texas. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2027, with initial rocket launches projected to commence by the end of the decade. While the state's economic development agency anticipates a slightly more conservative operational timeline than SpaceX, local officials have welcomed the project due to the promise of thousands of high-paying jobs and significant infrastructure development in the region.\n\nThis development comes as SpaceX continues testing its massive Starship vehicle, which has yet to demonstrate complete orbital flight and full reusability. Achieving rapid refurbishment and frequent flights is critical to the company's long-term commercial goals, which include transitioning entirely away from its established rocket family and launching next-generation satellite networks. However, the project also brings familiar challenges; the company's existing operations in Texas have faced scrutiny over workplace safety incidents and environmental degradation. In response, SpaceX has reportedly initiated early coordination with Louisiana conservation departments to protect local ecosystems and mitigate shoreline erosion around the new site.