In line with the pioneers of the conquest of space, SpaceX continues its efforts to mark the history of aerospace. After having already carried out five test flights and achieving a historic first last October – the recovery of its Super Heavy booster by the launch tower – the company is now tackling one of the biggest challenges of space exploration: refueling in orbit.
A feat awaited with great haste by NASA and in particular for its ARTEMIS program, which aims to send Man back to the Moon and establish a sustainable human presence on our natural satellite.
Orbital refueling: the key to future lunar missions
The innovation proposed by SpaceX could revolutionize the very approach to space missions. Until now, rockets had to carry all their fuel on takeoff, significantly limiting their payload capacity and autonomy. Indeed, the more fuel a rocket carries to reach its objective, the less payload it can carry, which creates a vicious circle considerably restricting its scope.
The transfer of fuel between two ships in orbit would completely change the situation, which is precisely what SpaceX is aiming for. This capacity would allow the machines to refuel like planes and would thus give them the capacity to carry massive loads well beyond Earth's orbit.
Kent Chojnacki, deputy director of the Human Landing System (HLS) program, sees in these tests planned from March to summer 2025 a decisive step before the first uncrewed moon landings. NASA has also invested massively in the project, granting $4.05 billion for the development of two Starships specially intended for manned missions.
A new collaboration for new standards
The working method between SpaceX and NASA illustrates a real transformation in the space industrywhich made it possible to rethink traditional models and open new perspectives for exploring our cosmos.
While the traditional SLS (Space Launch System) program costs over $2 billion per launch and operates with contracts cost-plus (NASA reimburses the contracting company for all costs incurred, plus a percentage of profit) without limits, SpaceX operates under a $2.99 billion fixed-price contract.
Even more remarkable: where classic NASA programs imposed thousands of restrictive technical specifications, the Starship project has only 27 essential system requirements. This flexibility therefore allows you to progress much more quickly than before.
If SpaceX succeeds in democratizing orbital refueling, the entire aerospace industry will benefit from this advancement. This innovation, long considered science fiction, may be on the verge of becoming a reality within a few months. Given the company's past successes, it's a safe bet that this will be the case.
- SpaceX is preparing to test in-orbit refueling, a crucial advance for future lunar missions.
- NASA and SpaceX collaborate on innovative contract with fewer constraints, helping accelerate the pace of space exploration
- This refueling system could transform the space industry, enabling large-scale missions.
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