After the historic landing, SpaceX is preparing for another daring test. Elon Musk’s SpaceX may attempt an orbital refueling test using two starships in March 2025.

On-orbit refueling is crucial for deep space missions to the Moon and Mars. It allows spacecraft to be refueled in space, extending their range and payload capacity.

If all goes as planned, this successful on-orbit refueling would demonstrate the Starship’s ability to undertake long-duration missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.

Kent Chojnacki, deputy manager of NASA’s Human Landing System program, revealed the test plans in a recent interview with Space flight now.

However, SpaceX has not made any official announcement for the test.

Fuel transfer

NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable lunar presence. SpaceX’s spacecraft is a key component of this mission.

The Human Landing System (HLS) spacecraft is a lunar lander variant of SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, designed to transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the lunar surface and back.

It seems, NASA has awarded SpaceX a $4.05 billion contract to develop two human-rated Starship vehicles to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The HLS spacecraft will carry the first astronauts to the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The crewed lunar landing is expected to take place in September 2026 near the lunar South Pole, a region rich in water ice and other valuable resources.

Furthermore, this mission will mark a historic milestone as it will land the first woman and the first black person on the moon.

In this March test, two Starship vehicles will be launched into low Earth orbit, separated by an interval of three to four weeks. The two spacecraft will meet, dock and perform a propellant transfer.

Following the propellant transfer, the two spacecraft will disengage and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

“Once you’ve done that, you’ve really opened up the opportunity to move massive amounts of payload and cargo outside the Earth’s sphere,” Chojnacki said in the interview.

Essential for a lunar mission

In-flight feeding will facilitate the development of long-term cryogenic fluid management technologies crucial to establishing a sustainable lunar presence and human missions to Mars.

SpaceX plans to launch a fleet of eight to sixteen tankers into low Earth orbit to support the lunar mission.

Conformable Gizmodo, The tankers are expected to carry about 100 to 150 metric tons of liquid oxygen and methane before docking at a larger fuel station.

After docking with the in-orbit depot, the Human Landing System Starship’s 1,200-ton fuel tanks will be refueled, preparing it for the final leg of its journey to the lunar surface.

SpaceX has made significant progress in recent months.

In an astonishing feat of engineering prowess, the colossal 232-foot (71-meter) Super Heavy the booster gently descended to the designated launch tower, where it was deftly caught.

On the other hand, the upper stage of the Starship vehicle successfully executed a controlled splash in the Indian Ocean. To support Artemis missions, the Human Landing System component of the spacecraft’s upper stage must be capable of performing a precise soft landing on the difficult and cratered lunar surface.