While SpaceX has just completed the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket which has validated new progress in its development, NASA reminds us of the central role that this vessel must play for the return of American astronauts to the Moon in the part of the Artemis program.
© © SpaceXThe Starship in its HLS configuration which will drop astronauts on the Moon from Artemis III. © SpaceX
Starship HLS will dock with Orion capsule for Artemis III
50 meters high and 9 meters in diameter, this Starship will reach the Moon empty, after having refueled in space thanks to tanks prepositioned in low Earth orbit. It is planned that SpaceX will carry out a first test of this new refueling system during 2025.
© © SpaceXThe in-orbit refueling device that will allow the Starship HLS to refuel before reaching the Moon. © SpaceX
Once in lunar orbit, the Starship SLS will dock with the Orion capsule with which the Artemis III crew will have traveled from Earth. According to NASA, two astronauts will take place in Starship HLS while two others will remain on board Orion.
Starship HLS will serve as a habitat for astronauts on the Moon
Once landed, the Artemis astronauts will descend to the surface of the Moon using an elevator that NASA and SpaceX have been testing for almost two years. They will be equipped with the spacesuit developed by Axiom Space in partnership with the Italian ready-to-wear brand Prada.
© © SpaceXThe elevator concept by which Artemis astronauts will descend from Starship HLS to reach the surface of the Moon. This device will also allow freight to be unloaded. © SpaceX
During their stay on the Moon, the Starship will also serve as habitat. We can get an idea of the layout of the ship thanks to these unofficial renderings based on a model used by SpaceX to work on the HLS cabin.
Starting with Artemis IV (2028), the Starship will dock with the station spatial Gateway which will serve as a lunar outpost. This will be the first time astronauts will enter Gateway.
