NASA Warns SpaceX Starship Delays Could Jeopardize 2027 Lunar Landing
WASHINGTON – NASA is facing growing concerns that SpaceX’s Starship, slated to serve as the Human Landing System (HLS) for the Artemis III mission, may not be ready to support a crewed lunar landing in 2027, according to a recent report. The assessment, delivered by the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), highlights significant challenges in both Starship’s progress and the broader Artemis programme timeline.
the potential delay stems from the complexity of landing a vehicle approximately 50 to 55 meters tall on the Moon’s surface, a task far more demanding than previous Apollo missions. The Apollo Lunar module, in contrast, stood roughly 7 meters tall, and even its 1971 landing on Apollo 15 experienced an 11-degree tilt. Experts suggest a perfectly level landing site for Starship may necessitate deploying a large rover – likened in size to a JCB construction vehicle – to prepare the terrain beforehand, a capability not currently included in SpaceX’s plans.
the ASAP report cautioned that any setbacks in Starship’s development, or in the creation of new lunar spacesuits by Axiom Space, would inevitably push back the 2027 landing date.This is despite the anticipated readiness of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), which has itself faced considerable delays. The agency is under pressure to maintain the enterprising schedule, as the success of Artemis is crucial for establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and paving the way for future missions to Mars.
One space agency insider,speaking to The Register,emphasized the need for a flat landing surface,underscoring the logistical hurdles facing the program. The HLS variant of Starship, as envisioned in renderings, features protruding landing legs and an internal elevator for astronaut access. However, achieving a stable landing with such a tall structure in the challenging lunar habitat remains a substantial engineering feat.
