SpaceX Louisiana: Starbase Louisiana News, Jobs, Map and Timeline
Everything about SpaceX’s planned Starbase Louisiana launch site at Pecan Island: the jobs, the location, the money, the decisions and the open questions, reported plainly so readers can decide for themselves.
Disclosure: Brison McPhail, publisher of the Times, also owns Rocket Farm, an RV park in Kaplan. Stories that touch it say so.
Live: SpaceX Louisiana Watch
Weather alerts for Pecan Island
Louisiana Status
No launches yet
Construction at Pecan Island is expected to begin in 2027, with a first launch targeted for 2029, according to The Center Square. Launch times, viewing areas, parking and road closures for Louisiana launches will be posted here as soon as SpaceX and the state announce them.
8 SpaceX job openings listed at Pecan Island
Next Starship Flight
Starship | Flight 15
No earlier than November 2026 TBD
Orbital Launch Pad 2, SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA
15th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle and 4th flight of Starship V3.
Upcoming SpaceX Launches
Mon. Nov. 2, 7:42 p.m. CTFalcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-432Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAGoWindow 7:42 p.m. to 11:42 p.m. · Orbit: LEO
Thu. Nov. 5, 8:21 p.m. CTFalcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 15-21Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAGoWindow 8:21 p.m. to 12:21 a.m. · Orbit: LEO
Mon. Nov. 9, 9:03 p.m. CTFalcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-xxx ("R-5")Vandenberg SFB, CA, USATBCWindow 9:03 p.m. to 1:03 a.m. · Orbit: LEO
Sun. Nov. 29, about 10 a.m. CTFalcon 9 Block 5 | Cygnus CRS-2 NG-25Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USATBCOrbit: LEO
No earlier than November 2026Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-195Vandenberg SFB, CA, USATBDOrbit: LEO
No earlier than November 2026Falcon 9 Block 5 | OneWeb 21Vandenberg SFB, CA, USATBDOrbit: PO
No earlier than November 2026Starship | Flight 15SpaceX Starbase, TX, USATBDOrbit: LEO
No earlier than December 2026Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 2 Transport Layer DCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USATBDOrbit: PO
LA 82 is the main road to Pecan Island. For live road conditions, closures and construction, check the state’s official traveler system before you drive.
The state is studying LA 82 improvements tied to the project; who pays has not been decided. Our story.
Tonight’s Sky Over Pecan Island
Sun and Moon
Loading…
Planets tonight
Loading…
Coming up: alignments and sky events
Loading…
Calculated for Pecan Island with Astronomy Engine. “Close pass” means two objects appear within a few degrees of each other; a fist at arm’s length covers about 10 degrees. Meteor shower peaks are approximate.
A running record of SpaceX’s planned Starbase Louisiana launch site near Pecan Island: what has been decided, by whom, what it is worth, and what is still unanswered. Every line links to its source. Last updated Oct. 31, 2026.
Start here: [Where is Starbase Louisiana?](/news/where-is-starbase-louisiana/) · [SpaceX Louisiana jobs: every opening so far](/news/spacex-louisiana-jobs-pecan-island/) · [What the parish knows so far](/news/starbase-louisiana-what-we-know/)
By the numbers
About 125,000 acres near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, according to The Center Square.
3,000 direct jobs expected over the next decade, with an average salary of $92,600, according to The Center Square. The tax agreement describes local hiring as an aspiration, not a requirement, Acadiana News First reported.
$25 million a year in payments to the parish to start, rising 2% a year for 25 years, about $800 million in all by the Gulf States Newsroom’s calculation, according to WWNO.
Nearly $23.8 billion in property tax exemptions over 25 years, per the Gulf States Newsroom; The Center Square puts the full state and local incentive package at about $27.5 billion.
Up to $600,000 a year in administrative fees to the parish Industrial Development Board, according to Acadiana News First.
8 SpaceX job openings listed at Pecan Island on the company’s job board as of Oct. 31, 2026, all senior engineering, construction, safety and community roles. [See the list.](/news/spacex-louisiana-jobs-pecan-island/)
2027 construction expected to begin; 2029 first launch targeted, according to The Center Square.
Timeline
July 15, 2026: The Vermilion Parish Police Jury amends its agenda during the meeting to revive the parish Industrial Development Board, according to the lawsuit described by WWNO.
July 23, 2026: The Industrial Development Board meets. Recordings were later obtained by Vermilion United.
Aug. 25, 2026: The development board approves the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement. The agenda used the code name “Project Osprey,” WWNO reported.
Sept. 16, 2026: SpaceX posts its first job listed at Pecan Island, a senior construction project manager, according to the company’s job board.
Oct. 26, 2026: The Vermilion Citizens Coalition and three residents sue the Police Jury and the development board under the Open Meetings Law, asking a judge to void the Aug. 25 approval. [Our story.](/news/residents-sue-to-void-spacex-tax-deal/)
Oct. 28, 2026: Acadiana News First reports the school district owns about 4,000 acres of Section 16 school land near White Lake, next to the site, which would be appraised before any swap. Gov. Jeff Landry’s former chief of staff, Kyle Ruckert, is reported registered as a SpaceX lobbyist.
Oct. 29, 2026: Vermilion United questions local hiring, the $600,000 fee and an unwritten fire-protection pledge. [Our story.](/news/vermilion-united-questions-spacex-deal/)
Oct. 31, 2026: The Center Square reports DOTD selected Royal Engineers & Consultants, a firm that gave $115,000 to a Landry-aligned PAC, for work tied to the site; the state is evaluating LA 82 improvements without having settled who pays. [Our story.](/news/landry-donor-firm-spacex-dotd-contract/)
Dec. 14, 2026: The earliest date Louisiana Economic Development told Vermilion United it would release the state’s cooperative endeavor agreement with SpaceX, according to the group.
Still unanswered
Will any of the 3,000 jobs be guaranteed to Vermilion Parish residents?
What does the state’s cooperative endeavor agreement with SpaceX say? It is not public.
Will SpaceX’s verbal promise of fire equipment, meant to protect homeowners’ insurance rates, be put in writing?
Where will the development board’s annual administrative fee go?
Who pays for upgrades to LA 82 and other roads: taxpayers or SpaceX? Was DOTD’s SpaceX-related engineering contract bid out?
What is the school land near White Lake worth, and what would the parish’s schools get in a swap?
How will a judge rule on the open meetings lawsuit, and when?
Know something that belongs on this page? [Send it to the Times.](/send-news/)
The engineering firm DOTD chose for work around Starbase Louisiana has given $115,000 to a Landry-aligned PAC. The state still won’t say if the job was bid, what it costs, or who covers the road bill.
SpaceX’s planned launch site covers about 125,000 acres near Pecan Island in southern Vermilion Parish, roughly 27 miles from Kaplan and 30 from Abbeville as the crow flies.
SpaceX’s own job board lists eight positions at its planned Starbase Louisiana site, all senior engineering, construction, safety and community roles. Here is every one.
Vermilion United says the Starbase Louisiana tax agreement treats local hiring as a goal, not a promise, and wants a verbal SpaceX pledge on fire protection put in writing.
A new citizens group and three residents say the Police Jury and a revived development board broke Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law eight times while approving the Starbase Louisiana agreement.
Newsletter
The Edge of X
Your direct feed for Starbase Louisiana. 10,000 launches. $100B spaceport. Zero fluff. Delivered fresh to your inbox.
