Key facts
- SpaceX plans to build an eight-mile natural gas pipeline, Starpipe, to its Texas launch facilities.
- The pipeline is intended to supply liquid methane fuel for Starship rockets.
- The project is expected to be operational by January 2026.
- SpaceX has signed over 100 oil and gas leases in Texas since 2023.
- A liquefaction plant is planned to convert natural gas to liquid methane on-site.
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 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 has previously mentioned the company's intention to build pipelines and process its own propellant. Engineering plans also indicate SpaceX's intention to build a liquefaction facility at Starbase to convert the natural gas into liquid methane. 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.