SpaceX is set to spend more than $100 billion to transform part of Louisiana Vermilion Parish into a new launch complex that could rival the iconic Kennedy Space Center. The company announced this week that its new facility will become its fourth and largest launch site, and Louisiana officials already say the complex will be capable of supporting thousands of launches each year.
According to Louisiana Economic Development, the full campus will include five launch complexes with two platforms each. The campus will also include propellant farms, a propellant production facility, power generation, vehicle processing and housing for SpaceX workers and their families. Given that SpaceX once hoped to host Starship at the Kennedy Space Center, it makes sense that the company would consider building its own rival launch site. Although construction is not expected to begin until 2027, SpaceX says it hopes to begin launches as early as 2029.
The project is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs over the next ten years, as well as several thousand indirect jobs. SpaceX also promises a launch rate that would eclipse what most spaceports handle today. If SpaceX could actually achieve this scale, Louisiana would become one of the main pieces in the chess game that is the company’s next generation of spaceflight.
SpaceX needs a lot more space for Starship
Given SpaceX’s massive plans for Starship, having a site as large as this new location in Louisiana makes a lot of sense. Starship is designed not only to be reusable, but also to carry more than 100 tons of cargo into orbit. As such, SpaceX plans to use it for a multitude of different mission types – from smaller satellite deployments to longer-range lunar landings. Starship is also central to SpaceX’s long-term goal of establishing a permanent colony on Mars that can accommodate at least 1 million people. CEO Elon Musk believes in this goal so much that he even bet his salary of 200 million shares on it.
However, it doesn’t matter how reusable a rocket is if the launch site itself becomes a bottleneck. And we know that SpaceX wants Starship to fly often enough that Louisiana officials are already talking about thousands of launches a year, which probably explains the decision to build 10 platforms. It seems the idea is to make it as easy and quick as possible for SpaceX rockets to turn around and send back after completing a mission.
There is also high demand for SpaceX launches, not even to mention Mars. The company continued to land major U.S. government contracts, including a $714 million Pentagon contract covering five military space missions. Although SpaceX is technically relying on its Falcon rockets for these contracts, it seems likely that the company is preparing to rely more and more on Starship.
Building in the swamp has its own problems
Before SpaceX can launch thousands of spacecraft from Louisiana, it must transform a vulnerable stretch of coastal land into something capable of supporting them. This means restoring certain wetlands and the coastline so that heavy equipment and launch infrastructure can be moved there safely. Given that Vermilion Parish could potentially lose an additional 186 square miles over the next five decades, this step in the process is extremely important to prevent future land losses.
The company can’t just pour concrete wherever it wants, either. In addition to shoreline stabilization, SpaceX must also find ways to reduce the impacts such a facility will have on wildlife and fisheries in the area. Additionally, any potentially unavoidable issues will need to be mitigated in some way. Given the success of Starship launches in the past, this is extremely important to avoid potential damage to such vital natural areas.
The surrounding infrastructure also needs to be worked on. Reports suggest that state officials are already examining nearby roads and bridges, and that new power generation and transmission plans will need to be built to power the new campus. SpaceX will have to cover the cost of these new structures as well as any utility upgrades. The company also entered into a local tax agreement that will allow it to pay at least $25 million annually for 25 years, with an initial cost of $20 million before construction begins.
