Images reveal how Starship will take astronauts to the Moon

SpaceX and NASA released a series of simulated images of how the Starship launch system would land astronauts of the Artemis program on the surface of the Moon.

Simulation of the HLS version of the Starship built by SpaceX landing on the lunar surface as part of NASA's Artemis program. (Photo: SpaceX).

A new series of simulations shows the various steps SpaceX's Starship reusable launch system will need to take during NASA's Artemis 3 moon landing mission, which is expected to take place as early as 2026, Space reported on November 21.

Specifically, the white version called the Human Landing System (HLS) of Starship will pair the nose with NASA's Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit. Astronauts in the Orion spacecraft will move to Starship. Starship will then bring them to the surface of the Moon, becoming the first people to set foot on this celestial body since 1972.

HLS simulation of the nose docking with the Orion spacecraft (top) and the belly docking with the regular Starship version (bottom). (Image: SpaceX).

One of the new images shows two Starships, a regular version and an HLS version, docking their bellies to transfer fuel from one to the other. Because the HLS is carrying heavy equipment to the moon, it will need to use a lot of fuel to escape Earth's gravity. It will need to be refueled on the way to the moon, so SpaceX has to develop orbital refueling technology. The company tested a different form of fuel transfer during Starship's third test flight.

The HLS version of Starship has a significantly different structure than the standard version. In the simulation, the HLS features windows for the crew to look out and lacks the fins of the standard version. It also has a glossy white exterior, as opposed to the stainless steel exterior with black heat shields typically seen.

Simulation of astronauts descending to the lunar surface after leaving HLS by elevator. (Photo: SpaceX).

Other simulations show HLS firing two of its six Raptor engines to decelerate and land on the Moon, followed by two astronauts wearing Axiom Space spacesuits descending to the lunar surface via an elevator.

Astronauts Peggy Whitson (Axiom Space) and Doug Wheelock (NASA) tested this feature in June 2024. They wore Axiom Space spacesuits and conducted tests with the HLS model at SpaceX headquarters in California. The test helped confirm that there was enough space in the HLS's airtight capsule, floor, and elevators for astronauts to perform tasks while wearing Axiom spacesuits.

NASA has postponed the Artemis 3 mission to September 2026, while the original target was 2024. The delay is due to hardware development issues, including problems with the Orion spacecraft's heat shield and the extended development of Starship to get the vehicle ready for orbit.