SpaceX Plans First Starship Space Refueling Test Next Spring
SpaceX aims to transfer propellant between two orbiting Starships as early as March, a crucial step toward an uncrewed lunar landing. NASA relies on this milestone to keep its Artemis program on track for a 2026 crewed moon mission.
SpaceX plans to conduct its first orbital propellant transfer between two Starships as early as March, marking a critical technical milestone for spaceflight. A NASA official confirms this test is an essential prerequisite for an uncrewed Starship lunar landing demonstration. The space agency depends heavily on this in-space refueling capability to execute the Artemis program and return humans to the moon.
NASA awards SpaceX a $4.05 billion contract for two human-rated Starships under a fixed-price model, which contrasts sharply with traditional cost-plus contracts. This approach saves NASA significant money compared to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which costs upwards of $2 billion per launch because none of its parts are reusable. The upcoming crewed Starship moon landing remains scheduled for September 2026.
NASA closely monitors SpaceX as the company continues to break new ground with its test campaign. The most recent Starship launch makes history when the company successfully catches the Super Heavy booster mid-air using mechanical arms on the launch tower. Agency officials emphasize that they learn valuable lessons from each of these rapid test flights as they collaborate to meet upcoming mission milestones.