NASA Revealed When Starship Will Perform First-Ever Refuelling Test in Orbit

SpaceX is preparing to have two of its Starships attempt refuelling in orbit for the first time, with plans to test the ambitious manoeuvre at some point early next year.

Kent Chojnacki, deputy manager for NASA’s Human Landing System program, explained that an in-flight propellant test would take place in March of next year. This is likely to be an important milestone for Starship as it eventually plans to deliver NASA’s Artemis mission to the moon, as well as other deep space missions, which will require a way to manage fuel along the way.

Starship to Attempt Complex In-Orbit Refuelling Test

SpaceX has signed a contract to use Starship tankers for in-orbit propellant transfer. In an earlier test, SpaceX was able to transfer roughly 10 metric tons of liquid oxygen from Starship’s header tank to its main tank. But this takes things even further, as the two Starships will dock during orbit for the propellant to transfer.

NASA’s contract, awarded to SpaceX in 2020, has outlined a requirement that will enable “long-term cryogenic fluid management.” This is what would be required to then take further, sustainable trips to the Moon and further afield.

A version of Starship is already being developed that will, according to founder Elon Musk, land a crew on the Moon in 2026. Preparing for this lunar mission, SpaceX is planning to launch between eight and 16 tankers into orbit, each carrying around 100-150 tons of liquid oxygen and liquid methane. These will dock within a depot where the Human Landing System Starship will fill its 1,2000-ton tanks. It acts as a sort of service station on the journey to the moon.

There are a lot of potential issues with the transfer of the liquids. Managing propellant ‘slosh’ in microgravity is one of the biggest problems. Boil-off and pressure levels are also both potential challenges to overcome if this is to be successful.

The development of Starship has been criticised by many, primarily for lack of progress. However, in October, the rocket’s incredible chopstick-like catching manoeuvre brought it back into the news. This mission was seconds from aborting, but managed to pull off the ambitious catch securely.

The requirements for the Artemis mission are ambitious and the Human Landing System of Starship’s upper stage will need to be able to land with accuracy on the Moon. Starship will have to make a lot of progress in the coming years to meet its contractual obligations with NASA.