Overview
- SpaceX and Louisiana Economic Development unveiled the project on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, saying construction would begin in 2027 and first Starship launches are targeted for 2029.
- The company proposes five launch complexes with ten pads total on about 125,000 acres near Pecan Island, and says the site will include on-site methane fuel production, power generation, a deep-water port and a possible airport.
- Louisiana is offering tax incentives and LED projects roughly 3,000 direct new jobs with additional indirect employment, while state officials say the development will spur local infrastructure and coastal restoration work.
- Residents and conservation groups have raised strong concerns about impacts to fragile marshes and bird habitat, and federal and state permits plus environmental review remain unresolved before large-scale operations can begin.
- SpaceX’s capacity claims — including thousands of flights per year and more than 30 launches a day as suggested by Elon Musk — depend on Starship’s technical maturation, final approvals and the company’s ability to build and operate the ambitious self-sufficient campus.