SpaceX commits $100bn to Louisiana space base

{"text":[[{"start":8.32,"text":"SpaceX has confirmed plans to build a $100bn launch site in Louisiana for its Starship rocket as Elon Musk’s company plans to expand its operations to support its vision of orbital data centres and flights to the Moon and Mars."}],[{"start":23.04,"text":"The project was unveiled by Louisiana’s Republican governor Jeff Landry at an event on Tuesday alongside SpaceX’s president Gwynne Shotwell. The facility will span roughly 125,000 acres in an area known as Pecan Island on the Gulf Coast roughly three hours west of New Orleans."}],[{"start":41.32,"text":"SpaceX intends to start construction next year and fly its first rockets from the base in 2029."}],[{"start":47.64,"text":"“This will be a project like no other. Another piece of science fiction transported into reality or what I call science fact,” Shotwell said."}],[{"start":56.76,"text":"SpaceX is seeking to rapidly increase the pace of rocket launches after raising $86bn in the largest initial public offering in June. The company has set out ambitious targets including reaching Mars using reusable rockets, putting data centres into orbit and developing advanced AI models."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":73.96,"text":"The company’s 407-foot-tall Starship rocket is central to the group’s ambitions. SpaceX plans to reuse both stages of the rocket while dramatically increasing the payload it can carry, enabling it to launch more equipment into orbit including larger satellites. Efforts to refuel the spacecraft while in orbit are central to delivering lunar and Martian missions."}],[{"start":95.36,"text":"Starship has flown 13 times but has experienced a number of technical setbacks with SpaceX racing to deliver an operational rocket."}],[{"start":103.28,"text":"The company has expanded its presence in Texas, home of its current launch site. Local residents in the area around the base near Boca Chica Beach voted to incorporate last year under the name Starbase, Texas."}],[{"start":115.76,"text":"Musk moved the legal base of his companies Tesla and SpaceX to Texas after clashing with state courts in Delaware over his pay and other issues."}],[{"start":125.36,"text":"Louisiana’s development agency said it had offered SpaceX a “competitive incentives package” to win the project and that in lieu of local taxes the company has agreed to pay $25mn annually to the local parish."}],[{"start":137.6,"text":"Some residents around the proposed Louisiana site have opposed SpaceX’s project since the company sketched out its plans earlier this year because of environmental concerns."}],[{"start":146.76,"text":"ExxonMobil gave up the Pecan Island site following a legal settlement stemming from allegations that its activities were worsening pollution in the area. The oil major said in court filings that it considered the proceedings meritless. The Guardian previously reported these developments."}],[{"start":163.08,"text":"Landry on Tuesday said: “These acres will be home to SpaceX and it will be built by Louisiana hands on Louisiana soil . . . This will be the place which America reaches farther than it has ever reached before.”"}],[{"start":175.6,"text":"SpaceX’s planned site will include five launch complexes with two launch pads at each facility. The company will also build residential housing for employees and their families similar to its Starbase hub in Texas."}],[{"start":193.02,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1787715861_5628.mp3"}