Latest estimate for Starship launches required to support a Moon landing? 22.
Summary
NASA needs many SpaceX Starship launches to refuel a lunar lander in orbit before it can go to the Moon, land, and return. Estimates for how many launches are required have changed, with NASA’s safety panel recently suggesting about 22 flights, while SpaceX says it should be 6 to 8.Key Facts
- NASA is working on the Artemis Program to land people on the Moon.
- A Starship lunar lander will need to be refueled in low-Earth orbit with liquid oxygen and methane fuel.
- Earlier estimates suggested about a dozen Starship launches might be needed for refueling.
- NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel recently estimated 22 Starship launches could be necessary.
- SpaceX founder Elon Musk disputed that estimate, saying 6 to 8 launches should be enough.
- Refueling in orbit involves challenges like fuel boiling off and transfer efficiency.
- Starship’s lifting capacity and launch rate affect how many flights are needed.
- NASA aims for a human lunar landing by 2028 and supports lander development with SpaceX and Blue Origin.
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