SpaceX is gearing up to make history by transferring propellant from one orbiting Starship to another as early as March 2025, a crucial milestone in its mission to return humans to the moon under NASA's Artemis program. This technical feat will demonstrate the capability to refuel Starships in space, enabling longer missions and paving the way for an uncrewed landing demonstration on the moon.

NASA awarded SpaceX a $4.05 billion contract for two human-rated Starship vehicles, with the upper stage landing astronauts on the moon's surface for the first time since the Apollo era. The crewed landing is currently scheduled for September 2026. The space agency is closely monitoring SpaceX's test campaign, which has already notched five launches, including a historic mid-air catch of the Super Heavy rocket booster using "chopsticks" attached to the launch tower.

The success of this propellant transfer demonstration will be a significant step forward for SpaceX and NASA, enabling the company to move massive amounts of payload and cargo outside of Earth's sphere. The Critical Design Review (CDR) in Summer 2025 will be the next major milestone, where NASA will certify that SpaceX has met all 27 system requirements for the Starship program. If all goes according to plan, SpaceX will land astronauts on the moon in September 2026, marking a major achievement for the commercial space industry.