# SpaceX Louisiana launch site negotiations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spacex-louisiana-launch-site-negotiations > Updated: 2026-08-19T23:05:26.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 4. In August 2026, SpaceX moved closer to establishing a massive Starship launch complex in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. The proposed site, located on an 18-mile strip of Pecan Island, would encompass approximately 130,000 acres of coastal marshland. The facility is designed to provide a launch corridor over the open Gulf of Mexico and utilize the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to transport Starship stages and boosters by barge between existing sites in Texas and Florida. A significant legal hurdle was cleared on August 19, when a federal judge dismissed a long-standing coastal damages lawsuit brought by the state and Vermilion Parish against ExxonMobil. This dismissal follows a June settlement intended to address coastal land loss caused by drilling and dredging. Under the terms of the settlement, which Governor Jeff Landry noted will help clear hundreds of orphaned wells without taxpayer expense, the Exxon-owned land is expected to be made available for the SpaceX project. Governor Landry is scheduled to formally announce the SpaceX deal on August 25 in Abbeville. While the project promises economic development, it continues to face opposition from environmental advocates and local residents. Critics argue the scale of the spaceport could threaten critical migratory bird habitats within the Mississippi flyway, specifically impacting species such as snow geese and whooping cranes. Organizers are demanding greater transparency regarding the regulatory process and the impact of high-frequency rocketry on the coastal ecosystem. ## Claims - A federal judge dismissed a coastal damages lawsuit brought by Vermilion Parish and the state of Louisiana against ExxonMobil. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Governor Jeff Landry stated the settlement will help clear hundreds of orphaned wells from the coast at no cost to taxpayers. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The settlement is expected to free up approximately 130,000 acres of Exxon-owned marshland in Vermilion Parish for SpaceX. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Governor Jeff Landry is scheduled to formally announce a deal with SpaceX on Tuesday, August 25, in Abbeville. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-19: ExxonMobil lawsuit dismissal clears path for SpaceX spaceport in Louisiana A federal judge dismissed a Louisiana coastal damages lawsuit against ExxonMobil, clearing the way for a potential SpaceX spaceport on 130,000 acres of marshland in Vermilion Parish. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/exxonmobil-lawsuit-dismissal-clears-path-for-spacex-spaceport-in-louisiana ### 2026-08-08: SpaceX plans massive Louisiana spaceport in Vermilion Parish SpaceX is reportedly nearing a deal to build a massive spaceport in Louisiana's Vermilion Parish, sparking environmental concerns regarding migratory bird habitats and local ecosystems. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-plans-massive-louisiana-spaceport-in-vermilion-parish ### 2026-08-05: SpaceX eyes 130,000‑acre Louisiana marsh for new Starship launch site SpaceX is finalizing a deal to acquire about 130,000 acres of Vermilion Parish marsh in Louisiana for a new Starship launch site, with Governor Jeff Landry set to announce terms. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-eyes-130000acre-louisiana-marsh-for-new-starship-launch-site ### 2026-08-03: SpaceX Nears Agreement for Launch Site on Louisiana’s Pecan Island Louisiana is finalizing a deal to give SpaceX control of ~130,000 acres on Pecan Island, tied to an ExxonMobil coastal lawsuit settlement; the site offers deep‑water access and will support SpaceX’s satellite‑l 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-nears-agreement-for-launch-site-on-louisianas-pecan-island --- Cite as: SpaceX Louisiana launch site negotiations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spacex-louisiana-launch-site-negotiations