According to county filings, construction of the 13-kilometre (8-mile) pipeline is expected to begin next month, reported Reuters. The pipeline is scheduled to become operational by January next year, as per the document filed last month by SpaceX affiliate Lone Star Mineral Development.
What Is Starpipe?
Starpipe is a natural gas pipeline that will transport fuel directly to SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas. Instead of relying on hundreds of tanker trucks to deliver fuel for every launch, the pipeline will transport natural gas to Starbase, where SpaceX plans to build a liquefaction facility to convert it into liquid methane for Starship launches.
According to a port official, Starpipe will begin on an 83-acre site at the Port of Brownsville, which SpaceX is negotiating to lease from the city for around five decades, reported Reuters.
Why Is SpaceX Building It?
SpaceX wants to speed up Starship launches. At present, each Starship launch requires around 630,000 gallons (2.4 million litres) of liquid methane, which is transported to the launch site by tanker trucks. This process takes several hours and is not compatible with Musk’s expansion plans.
How Does It Fit Into SpaceX’s Future Plans?
Starship is at the centre of SpaceX’s long-term ambitions. The 40-story Starship rocket is expected to play a key role in expanding the Starlink satellite network, supporting future space missions and eventually transporting astronauts to the Moon and Mars. The company has completed 12 Starship test launches since 2023 and plans to increase the launch rate in the coming years.
Is SpaceX Planning More Than Just A Pipeline?
Although it is uncommon for a space company to build its own natural gas pipeline, Starpipe could be the first step in SpaceX’s larger plan to develop its own fuel supply. According to Reuters, the company has been exploring natural gas drilling opportunities near Starbase and across Texas for several years.
SpaceX has reportedly acquired more than 100 oil and gas leases in Texas since 2023, according to a Reuters review of Cameron County land records. In a conversation with CNBC earlier, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said that the company plans to build pipelines, produce its own rocket fuel and is also exploring the possibility of drilling for natural gas. The company is also planning to build a facility at Starbase that would convert natural gas into liquid methane.
What Do Experts Say?
Stan Lindsey, an oil and gas consultant in Texas, believes extracting natural gas could be a difficult task for SpaceX, as the company has no previous experience in the oil and gas sector. However, he noted that the plan is still possible. “I’m not saying it’s beyond the realm of possibility … it’s possible they got a really nice prospect,” Lindsey said. He added that if SpaceX’s drilling plans do not succeed, “they’ve got a fallback position” with Starpipe.
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(Edited by : Juviraj Anchil)
