SpaceX continues to implement its strategy of maintaining full control over all stages of production. The next step in this direction will be the construction of its own energy infrastructure, which will supply fuel for future launches of the super-heavy Starship rocket. The company plans to lay a 14-km-long Starpipe gas pipeline connecting gas sources to the Starbase complex in Texas.
The project is being carried out by Lone Star Mineral Development, a subsidiary of SpaceX. The relevant documents have already been submitted to the Texas Railroad Commission. The goal of the initiative is to create a closed-loop system: the extraction of natural gas, its transportation, and subsequent processing directly on site.
The company also plans to build its own natural gas liquefaction plant at the Starbase site. This will enable it to process raw materials into liquid methane—a critically important fuel for Starship engines. The infrastructure, including a 406-mm gas pipeline, is expected to be operational by January 2027.
The need for a dedicated gas pipeline stems from the enormous volumes of fuel required. Each Starship launch requires about 2.4 million liters of liquid methane. Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has currently approved up to 25 launches per year, SpaceX’s plans are much more ambitious. The company aims to increase the frequency of flights to hundreds of missions per year, which requires a dramatic increase in supply capacity.
SpaceX is already demonstrating its dominance in the space industry: the Starlink network dominates low Earth orbit, and the reusable Falcon 9 launch vehicle remains the gold standard for reliability. The Starpipe project is yet another strategic move aimed at strengthening the company’s position. By controlling the supply chain for resources using the company’s own capital, Elon Musk is minimizing the risks associated with dependence on external suppliers and laying the groundwork for the next phase of space colonization.
We previously reported on how a previously unknown SpaceX spacecraft is entering the commercial market.
According to Reuters
