埃隆·马斯克的SpaceX公司计划在佛罗里达州修建一条天然气管道，为其在卡纳韦拉尔角发射的星舰（Starship）火箭输送燃料。
Musk’s SpaceX is proposing to build a natural gas pipeline in Florida to deliver fuel for its Starship rockets launched from Cape Canaveral.
根据佛罗里达州公共服务委员会的一份州级文件显示，该管道将服务于SpaceX的设施，以满足该公司对天然气日益增长的需求（天然气被液化后用作火箭燃料）。
The pipeline would serve SpaceX facilities and meet the company’s growing need for gas, which it liquefies to use as rocket fuel, according to a state filing from the Florida Public Service Commission.
在9月24日提交的一份文件中，SpaceX旗下一家名为Coastal Connect Services LLC的子公司申请在卡纳韦拉尔角所在的布里瓦德县修建一条长32.4英里、直径16英寸的管道。它将与Energy Transfer LP运营的“佛罗里达天然气输送”管道相连。
In a Sept. 24 filing, a SpaceX subsidiary named Coastal Connect Services LLC requested to build a 32.4-mile, 16-inch pipeline in Brevard County, where Cape Canaveral is located. It would connect with Florida Gas Transmission, a pipeline operated by Energy Transfer LP.
上次置评请求发出后，SpaceX并未立即予以回应。Energy Transfer也没有回应置评请求。
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Energy Transfer also did not respond to a request for comment.
根据德克萨斯州铁路委员会的一份文件（由另一家子公司Lone Star Mineral Development提交），如果该管道得以开发，将类似于SpaceX为其位于德克萨斯州南部的博卡奇卡发射台申请修建的8英里管道。
If developed, the conduit would be similar to SpaceX’s requested 8-mile pipeline for its Boca Chica launch pad in South Texas, according to a Texas Railroad Commission filing under another subsidiary, Lone Star Mineral Development.
佛罗里达州的文件显示，SpaceX评估了管道扩张的不同方案，并联系了拥有切萨皮克公用事业公司（Chesapeake Utilities）现有管道的公司，包括佛罗里达城市天然气公司或半岛公司。最终，该公司使用了新成立的附属公司Coastal Connect。
SpaceX evaluated different options for pipeline expansion and contacted companies with existing pipelines owned by Chesapeake Utilities, including Florida City Gas or Peninsula, according to the Florida filing. The company ultimately used Coastal Connect as a newly created affiliate.
SpaceX使用天然气的主要成分甲烷的液化形式作为其星舰火箭的推进剂。该公司目前通过卡纳韦拉尔角及其他地区的小型液化天然气设施，以卡车运输的方式接收液化天然气。
SpaceX uses methane, the primary component in natural gas, in liquid form as a propellant for its Starship rockets. The company currently receives trucked deliveries of liquefied natural gas from small-scale LNG facilities in Florida and elsewhere.
修建输气管道将提供源源不断的燃料供应，以满足预计增长的需求。SpaceX仍需对燃料进行液化，这需要液化天然气基础设施。
Building a pipeline to deliver the gas would provide a constant flow of the fuel to meet the projected increase in demand. SpaceX would still need to liquefy the fuel, which would require LNG infrastructure.
美国国家航空航天局（NASA）未对是否知晓SpaceX的管道建设计划置评请求作出回应。
National Aeronautics and Space Administration did not respond to a request for comment on whether the agency was aware of SpaceX’s pipeline efforts.
SpaceX已开始招募天然气交易员，招聘范围包括德克萨斯州和佛罗里达州。
SpaceX has begun hiring natural gas traders, including in Texas and Florida.