Overview
Starship HLS (Human Landing System) is a lunar lander variant of SpaceX's Starship vehicle, selected by NASA in April 2021 for the Artemis programme's crewed lunar landings. It will be the vehicle that returns humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The architecture works as follows: NASA's Orion capsule carries crew to lunar orbit aboard SLS. Starship HLS, pre-positioned in lunar orbit after launching separately and being refuelled in Earth orbit, docks with Orion. Crew transfer to Starship HLS, which descends to the lunar surface. After the surface mission, Starship HLS ascends back to lunar orbit, crew transfer back to Orion, and Orion returns to Earth.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Based On | Starship upper stage |
| Crew to Surface | 4+ astronauts |
| Diameter | 9 m |
| Height | ~50 m |
| Mass | ~100,000 kg (dry) |
| Landing Engines | Modified Raptor (high-mounted to avoid debris) |
| Surface EVA | Airlock + elevator for surface access |
| Propellant | LOX/CH₄ (liquid oxygen / methane) |
| Refuelling | Multiple tanker flights required in Earth orbit |
| NASA Contract | $2.89 billion (initial), expanded for Artemis IV |
Orbital Refuelling
Starship HLS requires orbital refuelling before travelling to the Moon. SpaceX plans to launch the lander, then launch multiple Starship tanker flights to transfer propellant in Earth orbit. Once fully fuelled, Starship HLS performs trans-lunar injection and enters lunar orbit to await the Orion crew. The number of tanker flights required is estimated at 10–16, making the refuelling demonstration a critical technology milestone.
Lunar Surface Operations
At ~50 metres tall, Starship HLS is dramatically larger than any previous lunar lander (the Apollo Lunar Module was 7 metres tall). An elevator system transports crew and cargo from the pressurised cabin to the surface. The landing engines are mounted high on the vehicle to avoid blasting regolith during descent — a design change from standard Starship, which uses engines at the base.
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Anatomy & mission profile
- Crew4 max (2 typical)
- Pressurised vol100 m³
- Mass1,300,000 kg
- Launch vehicleStarship / Super Heavy
- Abort systemTower / pusher
- LandingPowered landing
Pressurised volume to scale
Approximate pressurised volume — a sense of how roomy each vehicle is for crew or cargo.
Starship HLS vs every crew & cargo spacecraft
| Spacecraft | Type | Crew | Cargo kg | Vol m³ | Reuse | Debut | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Starship HLS you are here | Crewed lunar lander | 4 | 100,000 | 100 | ♻︎ Yes | Planned | In development |
| 🇺🇸 Crew Dragon | Crew capsule | 7 | — | 9.3 | ♻︎ Yes | 2020 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Cargo Dragon | Cargo spacecraft | — | 6,000 | 9.3 | ♻︎ Yes | 2020 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Dragon | Crew + cargo family | 7 | 6,000 | 9.3 | ♻︎ Yes | 2010 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Orion | Deep-space crew capsule | 4 | — | 19.6 | No | 2022 | Pre-operational |
| 🇺🇸 Starliner | Crew capsule | 7 | — | 11 | ♻︎ Yes | 2019 | Under review |
| 🇷🇺 Soyuz MS | Crew capsule | 3 | — | 7.5 | No | 1967 | Operational |
| 🇨🇳 Shenzhou | Crew capsule | 3 | — | 7 | No | 2003 | Operational |
| 🇷🇺 Progress | Cargo spacecraft | — | 2,400 | 7.6 | No | 1978 | Operational |
| 🇨🇳 Tianzhou | Cargo spacecraft | — | 6,700 | 18.1 | No | 2017 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Cygnus | Cargo spacecraft | — | 3,750 | 27 | No | 2013 | Operational |
| 🇺🇸 Dream Chaser | Cargo spaceplane | — | 5,500 | 16 | ♻︎ Yes | Planned | In development |
| 🇯🇵 HTV-X | Cargo spacecraft | — | 5,850 | 30 | No | Planned | In development |
Tap any column to sort · crew = maximum seats, cargo = pressurised + unpressurised upmass · figures are best estimates as of 2026.
Track Starship HLS across Orbital Radar
Frequently Asked Questions
Starship HLS is planned for Artemis III, NASA's first crewed lunar landing mission. The date depends on Starship development and orbital refuelling demonstrations. Check the launch schedule for current targets.
It launches on Starship/Super Heavy, is refuelled in Earth orbit by multiple tanker flights, then flies to lunar orbit. Crew arrive separately aboard Orion/SLS.
Estimated 10–16 Starship tanker flights in Earth orbit to fully fuel the lander for a lunar mission.
It is a modified variant. Key differences: high-mounted landing engines, airlock and elevator for surface EVA, no heat shield or flaps (it does not return to Earth), and a docking port for Orion.