Tulane University will introduce a space science and engineering minor in fall 2027, aiming to prepare workers for Louisiana’s expanding space sector. Local officials have questioned whether the region can train enough workers for a planned SpaceX launch site.
The minor is part of the School of Science & Engineering’s six-part 1,000 Day Plan. It adds an astrophysics class, while the rest of its courses already exist. The plan also includes research into biomedical and biochemical systems related to space exploration and leveraging Tulane’s partnerships with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Physics professor Matthew Escarra said the goal is to train workers for a region he described as a “hotbed” for the space industry.
SpaceX announced it would build a $100 billion Starbase launch site in Vermilion Parish, southwest of Lafayette. Louisiana Economic Development says the facility is expected eventually to support thousands of launches a year and create 3,000 jobs in Acadiana over the next decade, plus 8,100 in adjacent industries. Some local officials worry the region may not be able to train enough workers without bringing them in from elsewhere.
