SpaceX announced it is accelerating work on a simplified Human Landing System based on Starship's upper stage, outlining upgrades to life-support, an airlock, communications and an astronaut elevator. The company published a ~2,000-word update and said it aims to test the multi-ship refueling sequence needed for lunar missions in 2026. NASA awarded SpaceX a $2.89 billion HLS contract in 2021, now revised to about $4 billion, and recently reopened procurement for Artemis III on Oct. 20. With China targeting a crewed lunar landing by 2030, U.S. officials have suggested a crewed mission could be possible by 2028.
SpaceX Accelerates Starship-Based Lunar Lander Work, Targets 2026 Refueling Test
SpaceX steps up development of simplified Human Landing System for NASA
Nov. 2 (UPI) — SpaceX said Sunday it is intensifying work on a simplified Human Landing System (HLS) built around the upper stage of its Starship vehicle as the company pursues a crewed return to the Moon.
In a detailed, roughly 2,000-word post, SpaceX summarized recent progress on Starship — which completed its 11th test flight last month — and described specific upgrades to the HLS design, including improvements to life-support, an airlock, and onboard communications.
Key systems and refueling timeline
The company also highlighted refinements to an elevator system intended to transfer astronauts and cargo from the orbiting stage down to the lunar surface. SpaceX said it expects to test the multi-ship refueling sequence required for HLS missions in 2026. Because the Starship upper stage typically reaches orbit with most tanks nearly empty, successful lunar sorties depend on multiple tanker Starship flights to top off propellant in orbit.
Contract background and mission architecture
NASA originally awarded SpaceX a $2.89 billion contract for HLS development in 2021; that award has since been revised to about $4 billion. NASA selected SpaceX on the basis that the Starship-derived HLS could deliver astronauts to lunar orbit, land them on the Moon, and return them to lunar orbit for transfer back to an Earth-return vehicle.
Astronauts bound for lunar surface missions will travel from Earth in NASA's Orion spacecraft, launched atop the Space Launch System (SLS), and return to Earth in a reentry capsule after transferring between Orion and the HLS in lunar orbit.
Program context and schedule pressure
The U.S. effort is occurring amid strategic competition with China, which has set an objective of landing a crewed vehicle on the Moon by around 2030. That rivalry has added scrutiny to the pace of SpaceX's HLS work.
On Oct. 20, NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy reopened the procurement for the Artemis III lunar lander. Duffy has said U.S. officials are aiming to complete a crewed lunar landing as early as 2028 to remain competitive.
SpaceX faces technical challenges — notably mastering on-orbit refueling and certifying life-support systems — but its recent technical updates and the planned 2026 refueling demonstrations are important milestones to watch as NASA and industry prepare for future Artemis missions.
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