SpaceX says its Starship has passed 49 major milestones — including life‑support testing and docking demonstrations — and asserts it remains the quickest route to a lunar landing under NASA’s Artemis program. NASA has reopened its lunar lander contract to additional companies as competition grows and concerns about reaching the Moon before China intensify. SpaceX has proposed a streamlined mission plan to accelerate timelines and improve astronaut safety; the next milestones — an extended flight and an in‑orbit propellant transfer test — are planned for 2026.
SpaceX Says Starship Leads Race to Return Humans to the Moon — 49 Key Milestones Completed
SpaceX says its Starship has passed 49 major milestones — including life‑support testing and docking demonstrations — and asserts it remains the quickest route to a lunar landing under NASA’s Artemis program. NASA has reopened its lunar lander contract to additional companies as competition grows and concerns about reaching the Moon before China intensify. SpaceX has proposed a streamlined mission plan to accelerate timelines and improve astronaut safety; the next milestones — an extended flight and an in‑orbit propellant transfer test — are planned for 2026.
03:08, 04.11.2025Science
SpaceX says Starship is leading the charge back to the Moon
SpaceX reports that its Starship program has completed 49 major milestones, including life‑support system trials and spacecraft docking demonstrations, and says the vehicle remains the fastest pathway to a lunar landing under NASA’s Artemis program.
The company’s announcement comes as NASA reopens its lunar lander contract to additional competitors to accelerate development and strengthen the U.S. effort amid international competition, particularly concerns about reaching the Moon before China. SpaceX maintains Starship’s design, scale and integrated test progress make it a leading candidate for rapid crewed lunar missions.
Florida Tech’s Don Platt says the rivalry is intensifying and that both NASA and commercial providers face pressure to speed schedules. In response to the urgency, SpaceX has proposed a streamlined mission plan intended to shorten timelines while enhancing astronaut safety procedures.
What’s next for Starship
The program’s next major technical milestones are an extended-duration flight test and an in-orbit propellant transfer demonstration, both currently targeted for 2026. Successful completion of those tests would be critical for proving Starship’s ability to carry crew to lunar orbit and support a safe descent and return.
Note: NASA’s reopening of the lunar lander competition means other companies may now vie for roles in Artemis missions, increasing the pace and scrutiny of development across the industry.
This progress underscores an intensifying phase of lunar planning, where technical milestones, safety validations and international competition are all shaping the timeline to return humans to the Moon.