Key facts
- SpaceX plans to construct an eight-mile natural gas pipeline named 'Starpipe' to its Texas launch facilities.
- The pipeline is intended to supply fuel for the company's Starship rockets.
- The project is expected to be operational by January 2026.
- SpaceX has secured over 100 oil and gas leases in Texas since 2023.
- The company also plans to build a liquefaction facility to convert natural gas to liquid methane.
SpaceX is planning to construct an eight-mile natural gas pipeline, named 'Starpipe,' to its Starbase launch facilities in Texas, according to county filings reviewed by Reuters. The pipeline, which is expected to be operational by January 2026, is part of Elon Musk's strategy to accelerate the development and increase the launch frequency of the Starship rocket.
Starship, a fully reusable rocket, consumes approximately 630,000 gallons of liquid methane per launch. Currently, this fuel is delivered via hundreds of tanker trucks, a process deemed incompatible with Musk's ambitious expansion plans. SpaceX has been exploring its own drilling operations and has signed over 100 oil and gas leases in Texas since 2023, indicating a long-term strategy to control its propellant supply chain.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell had previously mentioned the company's intention to build pipelines and process its own propellant. An oil and gas consultant noted that while extracting natural gas would be challenging for a company without prior experience, the pipeline provides a fallback option. The proposed pipeline would originate from land near the Port of Brownsville, which SpaceX is in negotiations to lease for 50 years. Engineering plans also indicate SpaceX's intention to build a liquefaction facility at Starbase to convert the natural gas into liquid methane, a move described as efficient by industry experts.
The move into gas infrastructure underscores SpaceX's commitment to vertical integration, a strategy that has aided its rapid progress in rocket development. The pipeline's diameter suggests a fuel demand that could support more launches than currently approved by the FAA, aligning with SpaceX's ultimate goal of thousands of launches per year.