The aerospace company of the magnate Elon Musk, SpaceX, has confirmed together with the authorities of the state of Louisiana (USA) an investment of 100 billion dollars (about 85.5 billion euros) to build a large rocket launch center from which thousands of spacecraft will be able to take off each year.
The new space complex will mean the creation of 3,000 direct jobs in the next decade, with an average annual salary of 92,600 dollars (around 80,000 euros), which represents a 192% increase over the current average compensation in the region.
"This historic project will turn Louisiana into a global center for next-generation aerospace industry, with the capacity and infrastructure necessary to drastically increase the frequency of launches and expand access to space," reads a statement issued by the Louisiana Economic Development office.
Vermillion Parish, the name of the future complex located in Vermillion Parish, will be the fourth launch center of SpaceX and the largest to date, playing a key role in Starship missions. In addition to the launch area, the project includes a fuel production plant, power generation facilities, vehicle processing areas, and housing for workers and their families.
"We are preparing to build a spaceport that, until now, only existed in science fiction. SpaceX was founded to create a future in which humans explore the stars, something that will only be possible when traveling to space is as common as flying on a plane. The Louisiana complex will make that future possible," indicated the founder and CEO of the company, Elon Musk.
The schedule foresees that construction will begin in 2027, on land acquired by SpaceX from the state of Louisiana, and that the first launch from these facilities will take place in 2029.
"Today is a crucial moment for Louisiana. This announcement propels our state to surpass 250 billion dollars (215 billion euros) in new investments and places us at the center of the next great frontier," asserted the governor of the state, Jeff Landry.