Why SpaceX chose Texas for Starship and is building a new Louisiana spaceport

SpaceX runs its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, home to about 4,000 employees and all Starship test flights, chosen for open ocean to the east, a position closer to the equator and at least $15 million in state and local incentives. In August 2026 the company announced a second site on Pecan Island, Louisiana, spanning at least 195 square miles, to support its Starmind AI satellite constellation and orbital data centers.

• Starbase in Boca Chica employs about 4,000 people and hosts all Starship flights
• Incentives for the Texas site totaled at least $15 million
• The Louisiana site calls for 5 launch complexes and 10 orbital pads
• Louisiana construction starts in 2027, with first launch as early as 2029