NASA safety panel and SpaceX differ on Starship lunar refueling requirements
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NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel and SpaceX
United States
October 22, 2026
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COMPAMIR Editorial Team
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Read our editorial policy- Earlier version 110/23/2026, 3:00:38 PM
A NASA safety panel estimates that approximately 22 refueling flights are needed for a Starship lunar landing. Elon Musk disputes this figure, stating the actual requirement is closer to 6 to 8 flights. The discrepancy highlights ongoing uncertainty regarding the efficiency of orbital refueling for the Artemis program.
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