Houston, Texas – NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for an ambitious mission that could pave the way for future lunar exploration efforts. The collaboration aims to demonstrate in-space refueling by linking two Starship spacecraft in orbit, a crucial step in making the Moon more accessible.
SpaceX, contracted by NASA for supplying human-rated Starships for upcoming lunar landings through the Artemis program, is at the forefront of this endeavor. The project envisions utilizing resources from the Moon or Mars to propel these spacecraft on multiple missions, ushering in a new era of space exploration.
According to Amit Kshatriya, leading NASA’s “Moon to Mars” program, SpaceX is making strides in its Starship test program, with a test flight scheduled from the company’s South Texas launch site. The focus is on addressing the significant challenges associated with in-space propellant transfer, a key aspect of deep space exploration.
Before embarking on lunar missions, both SpaceX and Blue Origin must master technologies for in-space refueling. SpaceX plans to demonstrate a large-scale propellant transfer between two Starships in orbit next year, necessitating several intermediary test flights to perfect the process.
In a recent Starship test flight supported by NASA funding, SpaceX successfully conducted a cryogenic propellant transfer, laying the groundwork for future in-orbit refueling endeavors. The upcoming test flights will focus on additional capabilities, including precise landings and engine restarts crucial for controlled reentry.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, is optimistic about the prospect of rapidly reusing Starships and boosters to increase launch cadence. The company aims to recover a Super Heavy booster in Texas this year and land a Starship back in Texas in the near future, signaling progress towards its ambitious goals in space exploration.