NASA Picks SpaceX to Send Astronauts to Moon?

Yes, NASA selected SpaceX to build the lunar lander that will carry astronauts to the Moon’s surface under the Artemis program. The contract, announced in April 2021, is part of the Artemis III mission, which aims to land the first humans near the lunar South Pole since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Formula

The calculator above computes your average pace (minutes per kilometer) and average speed (kilometers per hour) for a run or walk. The formulas are:

• Pace (min/km) = Total time (min) ÷ Distance (km)
• Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Total time (min) ÷ 60)

Where t is the total time in minutes, and d is the distance in kilometers. The pace tells you how many minutes it takes to cover one kilometer, while speed tells you how many kilometers you cover in one hour.

Worked Example

Using the default values (50 minutes for 10 km):

1. Pace = 50 min ÷ 10 km = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 km ÷ (50 min ÷ 60) = 10 km ÷ 0.8333 h = 12.00 km/h

So you run at 5 minutes per kilometer, which equals 12 kilometers per hour. This matches the calculator output.

Background: The Artemis Program and the Need for a Lander

NASA’s Artemis program is the agency’s current effort to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. The program is named after the Greek goddess Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, symbolizing the next chapter of lunar exploration. The core goals include landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, conducting science, and preparing for future Mars missions.

Artemis missions are numbered sequentially: Artemis I (uncrewed test flight around the Moon, completed in 2022), Artemis II (crewed flyby, currently planned for 2024 or later), and Artemis III (the landing mission). For Artemis III, NASA needed a Human Landing System (HLS) to transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back. In April 2021, NASA awarded the contract to SpaceX, selecting its Starship vehicle over proposals from Blue Origin and Dynetics.

How the SpaceX Starship HLS Works

SpaceX’s lunar lander is a variant of its Starship spacecraft, designed specifically for the Moon. The architecture involves several steps:

• Launch and refueling: The Starship HLS launches into Earth orbit on a Super Heavy rocket, then is refueled by multiple tanker Starships in orbit before heading to the Moon.
• Transit to lunar orbit: The lander travels to the Moon and enters a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), the same orbit used by the Gateway space station.
• Docking with Orion: The Artemis III crew launches in NASA’s Orion capsule atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Orion docks with the Starship in NRHO.
• Descent and landing: Two astronauts transfer to Starship, which then descends to the lunar surface. The lander uses its Raptor engines, but for the final landing, it relies on a set of high-mounted engines to avoid kicking up debris.
• Surface stay and return: After about a week on the surface, the astronauts launch back to orbit in Starship, dock with Orion, and return to Earth.

The Starship HLS is designed to be reusable and capable of carrying larger crews and more cargo than Apollo-era landers, supporting a longer surface stay.

How NASA Chose SpaceX

NASA’s selection process for the HLS contract was competitive, with three bidders. The agency evaluated proposals based on technical merit, management, and cost. SpaceX’s proposal was the lowest-priced and scored highest overall. Key factors included:

• Cost: The SpaceX bid was approximately $2.9 billion, significantly less than Blue Origin’s $5.99 billion and Dynetics’ $9 billion.
• Technical approach: Starship’s large payload capacity and planned reusability offered a scalable path for future missions.
• Schedule: SpaceX’s timeline was considered realistic for the 2024 target at the time.

The award was not without controversy. Blue Origin protested the decision to the Government Accountability Office, but the protest was denied in July 2021. Later, NASA announced a second HLS contract for Artemis V, which was awarded to Blue Origin in 2023, providing a backup lander.

Common Misconceptions and Challenges

Several misconceptions surround the SpaceX HLS selection. One is that NASA is replacing the SLS rocket with Starship; in reality, SLS is still used for crew launch, while Starship serves only as the lander. Another is that Starship will fly directly from Earth to the Moon; it actually requires orbital refueling, a complex and unproven technology.

Technical challenges include developing in-space refueling, landing a large vehicle on the Moon, and ensuring crew safety during the descent and ascent. SpaceX has been testing Starship prototypes at its Starbase facility in Texas, with several high-altitude and orbital test flights. However, as of 2025, the HLS has not yet flown to the Moon, and the Artemis III timeline has slipped to 2026 or later.

Safety and Risks

Landing on the Moon is inherently risky, and the Starship HLS introduces new hazards. The vehicle’s height (about 50 meters) means the crew must descend from the crew cabin to the surface via an elevator, a first for lunar landers. The landing engines are placed high on the vehicle to avoid plume effects, but this changes the landing dynamics.

NASA and SpaceX have rigorous safety reviews, including abort scenarios during descent and ascent. The HLS must meet NASA’s human-rating requirements, which include redundant systems and abort capabilities. However, the uncrewed test flights will be critical to validating the design before astronauts ride it.

Cost and Funding

The initial HLS contract is worth $2.89 billion, covering the development and one crewed landing. NASA’s total Artemis program budget is estimated at over $90 billion through 2025, with the SLS and Orion accounting for a large share. The Starship development is funded partly by NASA and partly by SpaceX’s private investment. Critics have noted that the contract is fixed-price, meaning SpaceX bears cost overruns, which could be a risk for the program’s schedule.

Alternatives and Future Plans

While SpaceX is the primary lander for Artemis III, NASA has also selected Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander for Artemis V, scheduled for 2029. This dual-provider approach aims to ensure competition and redundancy. Additionally, international partners like ESA (European Space Agency) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) are contributing components, such as the Gateway station and lunar rovers.

Beyond Artemis III, NASA plans to use the HLS for a sustained lunar presence, including a base camp near the South Pole. The experience gained will inform future Mars missions, where Starship is also a candidate vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Artemis III land on the Moon?

As of 2025, NASA targets 2026 or 2027 for Artemis III, but the schedule depends on the successful test flights of Starship and the readiness of the SLS and Orion. Delays are possible due to the complexity of the systems.

Why did NASA choose SpaceX over Blue Origin?

SpaceX offered the lowest cost and the highest technical rating. The proposal was about half the price of Blue Origin’s, and NASA’s source selection statement highlighted the strengths of the Starship design, such as its large payload capacity and rapid iteration approach.

Will astronauts land inside the Starship itself?

No, the astronauts will transfer from Orion to Starship in lunar orbit, then ride Starship down to the surface. They will exit the vehicle via an elevator to reach the lunar surface.

Is the Starship HLS the same as the Starship used for Mars?

It is a variant. The lunar lander has modifications like landing legs, a different engine placement, and no heat shield for Earth reentry (since it doesn’t return to Earth). The Mars version will need different capabilities.

What happens if Starship fails during the landing?

NASA and SpaceX design for multiple failure scenarios. The lander has redundant engines and systems, and the crew can abort back to orbit during descent. However, a failure on the surface would be more serious, and the crew would rely on the ascent stage to return to Orion.

How much does the Artemis program cost?

NASA’s estimated cost for Artemis through 2025 is over $90 billion, including development of SLS, Orion, ground systems, and the HLS. The exact total for the full program is not fixed and will depend on future budgets and mission success.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2