The recent engine malfunction on SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft, which nearly disrupted its 14th uncrewed orbital test flight, could complicate NASA’s schedule for sending astronauts to the moon. Starship, designed to transport heavy payloads into space, is one of two contenders aiming to become NASA’s primary vehicle for lunar landings as early as 2028, a milestone not achieved since the Apollo missions ended in 1972.
Although the test launch from Texas on Monday met several critical objectives, the mission was cut short by several hours due to a propulsion system failure. One of the three main Raptor engines shut down unexpectedly after Starship separated from its lower-stage booster. Despite this setback, flight controllers continued with the spacecraft’s first commercial satellite deployment into orbit.
Identifying the cause of the engine failure is crucial for SpaceX’s commercial goals. However, the implications are even more significant for NASA, as the same engine system is intended to power Starship for crewed lunar missions, ferrying astronauts to and from the moon’s surface.
The extent of the delay in Starship’s development depends on whether the failure was an isolated incident involving a single component or indicative of a broader design flaw requiring fleet-wide modifications. Dean Sladen, an aerospace engineer at Accu Components, noted that any necessary engine repairs delaying upcoming flights—including the planned attempt to catch the spacecraft with the launch tower’s arms after re-entry—would impact the overall timeline.
In a critical development, Sladen emphasized that the greatest pressure lies with NASA’s lunar ambitions. The Artemis III mission, an Earth-orbit test flight scheduled as early as next summer, serves as a rehearsal for the first crewed moon landing. Delays in Starship’s readiness could jeopardize this timeline.
Raptor engine and propulsion issues have caused multiple setbacks in previous Starship flights, including an engine ignition failure during the 12th flight in May. These methane-fueled engines are among the most complex and costly parts of the rocket. While some earlier flights saw scrapped attempts to ignite the Raptor engine in space, all engines successfully fired during ascent on the 13th flight in July.
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002 near Los Angeles, is competing with Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s rocket company, to lead NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program. Although SpaceX was initially contracted to provide the first crewed lunar lander, NASA’s head Jared Isaacman announced in April that the agency would select whichever lander is ready first, encouraging competition amid Starship’s testing delays.
NASA’s goal to return astronauts to the moon by 2028 is widely regarded as ambitious, aiming to precede China’s planned crewed lunar landing by 2030. A functional lunar lander is also essential for the Artemis III mission, potentially launching in summer 2027, to test rendezvous and docking maneuvers in low Earth orbit.
SpaceX is developing a Human Landing System based on its towering stainless-steel Starship, much larger than any previous moon lander. Meanwhile, Blue Origin is creating its Blue Moon lander, which follows a more conventional design. Both landers are expected to participate in Artemis III, demonstrating orbital maneuvers with their in-space engines.
Isaacman revealed the dual-lander strategy shortly after NASA completed the Artemis II mission, which sent astronauts around the moon and back. This mission marked the first crewed launch of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, built by Boeing and Northrop Grumman, along with the Orion capsule manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
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