SpaceX has unveiled plans for a $100 billion spaceport, dubbed Starbase Louisiana, on the state's Gulf coast, intended to support thousands of Starship launches per year. The announcement marks a significant expansion beyond SpaceX's existing Boca Chica site in Texas, though it comes well before Starship has demonstrated orbital flight or the reusability needed to sustain such a high launch cadence, raising questions about how realistic the timeline and scale really are.

Construction is due to begin in 2027, with the first launch from the site targeted for 2029. The self-sustaining facility would include its own propellant production, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing and an airport, eventually comprising five launch complexes with two pads and a propellant farm each. It is planned for Vermilion Parish, where SpaceX says it will work with state and federal agencies on coastal protection measures given shoreline erosion of up to 23 feet a year, while Louisiana officials tout an estimated 3,000 direct and 8,100 indirect jobs over the next decade.