SpaceX will begin construction next month on a new natural gas pipeline in Texas. The eight-mile project, named Starpipe, will supply fuel directly to the Starbase launch facility. Regulatory filings indicate the pipeline will be operational by late January 2027.
This infrastructure replaces the requirement for hundreds of tanker trucks to deliver liquid methane for each launch. The development aims to increase Starship launch frequency by removing logistical bottlenecks.
The project underscores SpaceX's strategy of vertical integration to control its supply chain. The company is also acquiring Texas oil and gas leases to potentially produce its own rocket propellant.