T+339: Starbase Louisiana, the Falcon Fade, and the Next Wave of Launch Vehicles

SpaceX officially announced Starbase Louisiana, and I break down why the site fits Starship’s launch, landing, and orbital architecture so perfectly. I also look at the transition from Falcon to Starship, and the new launch vehicles on the verge of debut.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Warren, Matt from Built, Theo and Violet, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Natasha Tsakos, Lee, Donald, David, Matt, Joonas, Russell, Steve, Frank, Will and Lars from Agile, The Astrogators at SEE, Josh from Impulse, Fred, Joel, Kris, Pat, Joakim, Miles O’Brien, Stealth Julian, Jan, Ryan, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• SpaceX Launches New Era of Commercial Spaceflight with $100 Billion Louisiana Campus - Louisiana Economic Development
• SpaceX intends to invest up to $100 billion in massive Louisiana spaceport - Ars Technica
• Episode 245 - Polar Bears and Penguins (with Jonathan Goff and Mike Loucks) - Off-Nominal
• AAS Paper Review: RAAN Agnostic 3-Burn Departure Methodology for Deep Space Missions from LEO Depots (Part 1 of 2) | Selenian Boondocks
• AAS Paper Review: Practical Methodologies For Low Delta-V Penalty, On-Time Departures To Arbitrary Interplanetary Destinations From A Medium-Inclination Low-Earth Orbit Depot | Selenian Boondocks
• An Updated Propellant Depot Taxonomy Part V: Human Spaceflight Fixed Depots (Low-Orbit) | Selenian Boondocks
• SpaceX on X: Ship 40 Reaches Christmas Island
• Ship 40 arrives at Christmas Island, Plans Return to Starbase - NASASpaceflight
• SpaceX on X: Ship 41 Single-Engine Static Fire
• Ship 41 Completes Engine Testing Ahead of Flight 14 - NASASpaceflight
• Satellite operators are in panic mode due to a worsening launch crisis - Ars Technica
• Nova payload module, second stage, and Andromeda engine fit check - Stoke Space
• First three flight-one Zenith engines ready for acceptance testing - Stoke Space
• Rocket Lab Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results: Posts Record Revenue and Record Backlog, Guides To Another Record Revenue Quarter in Q3 2026 - Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab Unveils GHOST Deployable Launch System to Enable Responsive Space Missions Worldwide - Rocket Lab
• Firefly Aerospace Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results With Record Revenue Of $117.7 Million, Up 659% Year-Over-Year - Firefly Aerospace
• Tank problem delays first RFA launch - SpaceNews
• Relativity Space engine integration milestone for Terran R first stage - NASASpaceflight

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