The Moon
RETURNING HUMANS TO LUNAR MISSIONS
ONLY 24 HUMANS HAVE FLOWN TO THE MOON.
12 WALKED ON ITS SURFACE.
NO ONE HAS BEEN BACK SINCE 1972.
Why the Moon?
The Moon is one of Earth’s closest habitable neighbors and provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience for missions to Mars and beyond.
| DIAMETER | 3,475 km / 2,159 mi |
| DAY LENGTH | 29.5 Earth days |
| GRAVITY | 16.6% of Earth |
| AVG DISTANCE FROM EARTH | 384,400 km / 238,855 mi |
| AGE | 4.51 billion years |
Starship
SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket – collectively referred to as Starship – represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. Starship is the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, capable of carrying up to 150 metric tonnes fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes expendable.
To the Moon
and back
The infographic below outlines a typical approach to a mission around the Moon. Lunar missions such as the one depicted here would typically last 6-7 days.
Liquid oxygen and methane are loaded onto the Starship-Super Heavy system. Starship-SuperHeavy lifts off.
Super Heavy separates from Starship and returns to Earth. Starship continues into orbit.
Starship performs a lunar transfer burn using the three Raptor vacuum engines.
Starship performs small trim maneuvers to target close approach.
As Starship comes close to the Moon, the surface will be in plain view for close inspection.
As Starship begins a return to Earth, the Moon recedes away as Earth grows bigger.
Starship uses its heatshield to safely reenter Earth’s atmosphere.
Starship executes a final series of control burns to get into a vertical orientation and land at the landing pad.
STARSHIP HUMAN LANDING SYSTEM
Starship will land humans on the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years under NASA’s Artemis missions. Starting with Artemis III, Starship will land crew members at a region near the lunar South Pole to conduct moonwalks and survey the likely area of a future Moon base. On future missions, Starship will deliver supplies, equipment, and science payloads needed for extensive surface exploration.