NASA's safety advisers have expressed doubts that the lunar lander version of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft will be ready for the Artemis 3 mission, SpaceNews reports (open copy). Artemis 3 is planned to land astronauts on the moon in 2027.
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel shared these concerns during a public meeting on September 19. Panel members, including former astronauts, visited SpaceX's Starbase facility last month and met with company leaders. They concluded that the Human Landing System, or HLS - a special version of Starship built to carry people to the moon's surface - faces major schedule problems and could be years behind.
A key challenge is demonstrating cryogenic propellant transfer, which means refueling the spacecraft in low Earth orbit using super-cold fuels before it travels to the moon. This process has been delayed by issues with the third version of Starship, the first one able to handle such transfers, and ongoing fixes to its Raptor engines. SpaceX's president mentioned that refueling worries her more than docking two Starships in space, though she hopes it won't be as difficult as some engineers fear.
Broader concerns for the Artemis program
Despite these delays, the panel praised SpaceX's achievements, noting how the company's Falcon 9 rocket launches frequently, especially for its Starlink satellite network. This high launch rate builds experience in building and operating spacecraft, improving reliability and cutting costs.
However, this success creates competing demands on resources, which might slow down Starship and HLS work, affecting the Artemis timeline. Looking at the bigger picture, the panel sees Artemis 2, a test flight around the moon set for early 2026, as progressing well. But for Artemis 3 and later missions, the path is unclear and risky for safety. They worry about aggressive schedules for HLS and new lunar spacesuits from Axiom Space, a company developing protective gear for moon walks. Any slips in these could delay the moon landing significantly. The panel plans to keep examining the Starship HLS design, including a deep review of its refueling tech, in future meetings to assess what's realistic and when.