Governor Ron DeSantis has announced SpaceX's decision to expand its Starship operations in Florida. The move involves the construction of new launch and landing infrastructure at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, subject to environmental approval. Additionally, a new integration facility called Gigabay will be built, offering over 40 million cubic feet of vehicle processing space.
The project represents a $1.8 billion investment by SpaceX and is expected to create approximately 600 full-time jobs on the Space Coast by 2030. Governor DeSantis stated, “Florida is the present and future of the space industry with leading space companies — like SpaceX — investing in the Free State of Florida.”
Kiko Dontchev, Vice President of Launch at SpaceX, emphasized the company's mission to make humanity multiplanetary through Starship: “Through this significant expansion of Starship production and launch capabilities in Florida, we’re taking a big step toward achieving this goal."
Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly credited Governor DeSantis' leadership for attracting such investments: “SpaceX’s investment in Florida is the direct result of strategic, critical investments made by the Governor in aerospace and aviation infrastructure."
Jared W. Perdue from the Florida Department of Transportation highlighted Florida's growing role in space innovation: “Florida continues to set the pace for space innovation...and is on track to continue this record-breaking momentum into the future as a national leader."
Rob Long, President and CEO of Space Florida, noted that "SpaceX's Gigabay project helps advance Florida’s mission to solidify our state as the world’s hub for aerospace commerce."
Congressman Mike Haridopolos praised the investment as transformative: “This transformative $1.8 billion investment by SpaceX cements Florida’s Space Coast as the launchpad for the future of American spaceflight."
The collaboration between various state entities and SpaceX marks a significant development for Florida's aerospace sector.