"SpaceX has published an update on its lunar Starship progress, and it still has a long way to go before the impressive-looking renders are translated into reality. Yesterday's briefing followed an announcement earlier this month by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy who said SpaceX was behind schedule, and the contract to land astronauts on the Moon for the Artemis III mission was being reopened. SpaceX has now responded with a lengthy update that is big on promises but somewhat light on actual progress."
"However, performing a software architecture review and qualifying a docking adaptor based on the existing Dragon 2 docking system remains quite some way from demonstrating long-duration flight and in-space propellant transfer. SpaceX said, "Both of these tests are targeted to take place in 2026." Although it presented renders showing the vast space available within the Starship HLS, the corporation did not give a timescale for when a lunar landing might take place."
SpaceX reported completion of 49 milestones tied to developing subsystems, infrastructure, and operations for lunar crew landings, claiming most were achieved on or ahead of schedule. Critical demonstrations such as a software architecture review and qualification of a Dragon 2–based docking adaptor remain pending and are targeted for 2026. No firm timeline for a lunar landing was provided despite interior Starship HLS renders. SpaceX is assessing a simplified mission architecture intended to speed return to the Moon and improve crew safety. The current plan to deliver up to 100 tons to the surface could be reduced to minimize in-space refueling and stability risks for a shortened lunar variant.
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