SpaceX Accelerates Moon Mission After NASA Criticism
Credit: SpaceX
Elon Musk’s company has unveiled a new lunar mission strategy amid criticism from NASA over delays in the development of the Starship rocket.
SpaceX’s option is to build a lighter version of Starship.
The lighter SpaceX will remove much equipment unnecessary for the lunar mission, including a significant portion of the heat shield. The payload delivered to the Moon will also be reduced, but it will be replaced by fuel, allowing the American lunar landing program to be completed ahead of the Chinese.
The Starship upgraded for lunar descent will feature two large airlocks, each larger than the airlocks on the Apollo mission modules. Astronauts will descend to the surface using lifts. They won’t have to climb 30-meter-long ladders. It’s crucial for SpaceX and NASA to approve the new plan as quickly as possible so they can begin designing the updated onboard hardware for the lunar version of Starship.
Elon Musk previously announced the Starship launch to Mars in late 2026. If the tests are successful, a human expedition will depart for the Red Planet within a few years.
