SpaceX has been making significant strides in improving the performance of its Starship spacecraft through a series of test flights conducted since April 2023. However, there are still several key milestones to achieve in the coming year.
One of the major goals for SpaceX in 2025 is to conduct a long-duration flight test and a propellant transfer flight test. These tests are crucial for demonstrating the capability to launch a Starship into orbit and rendezvous with a tanker carrying fuel, which is essential for NASA's Artemis program.
As part of NASA's Artemis III mission, which aims to return astronauts to the moon, Starship may need to dock with multiple fuel tankers before proceeding to the lunar surface. SpaceX is set to undergo a critical design review for the Artemis III mission next summer, with the mission currently scheduled for no earlier than mid-2027.
SpaceX's CEO, Elon Musk, has expressed his vision of launching 'hundreds of missions' with satellites before attempting a crewed Starship mission. The company also plans to use Starship to deploy batches of its Starlink internet satellites.
Another key objective for SpaceX is to develop a strategy for landing and re-flying the upper Starship spacecraft. While progress has been made in recovering the Super Heavy booster, the fate of the Starship spacecraft post-mission remains a challenge, as it currently sinks into the ocean.
With each test flight improvement, SpaceX is positioning itself to take on more ambitious projects and play a crucial role in advancing space exploration and technology.
