What is 'Starpipe' and why is SpaceX building it?

Starpipe is an eight-mile (13-km) natural gas pipeline that SpaceX plans to begin building next month to supply its Texas launch facilities at Starbase; it is intended to replace the current inefficient method of delivering ~630,000 gallons of liquid methane per Starship launch via hundreds of tanker trucks, enabling Musk’s goal of scaling to dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of launches per year.

How does Starpipe fit into SpaceX’s broader strategy for Starship propellant infrastructure?

Starpipe is part of SpaceX’s plan to control its entire propellant supply chain: it will deliver natural gas to Starbase, where SpaceX intends to build a liquefaction facility to convert it into liquid methane — the fuel for Starship — and the company has also secured over 100 oil and gas leases in Texas and explored drilling its own natural gas, indicating Starpipe serves as both an immediate solution and a fallback if those drilling efforts fall short.

SpaceX Plans to Build 'Starpipe' Natural Gas Pipeline for Starship Rockets

Jun 25, 2026

SpaceX plans to build an eight-mile natural gas pipeline, "Starpipe," to supply liquid methane fuel for its expanding Starship rocket program at Texas facilities. The project involves securing fuel supply through potential drilling and liquefaction infrastructure.

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SpaceX Plans to Build 'Starpipe' Natural Gas Pipeline for Starship Rockets

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SpaceX Plans to Build 'Starpipe' Natural Gas Pipeline for Starship Rockets

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