SpaceX and NASA have set ambitious goals for the Starship rocket. NASA aims to utilize Starship for the final leg of the journey to return astronauts to the moon as part of the Artemis program, marking the first moon landing in five decades. To achieve this, NASA awarded SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract in 2021, followed by an additional $1 billion deal.
According to NASA's latest timeline, the first crewed moon landing using Starship could occur as early as mid-2027. Beyond the moon, Starship plays a crucial role in SpaceX's mission to transport humans to Mars. The ultimate objective is to establish humans as a multi-planetary species, ensuring a backup plan for humanity in case Earth becomes uninhabitable.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk emphasized the need for a massive rocket to enable the creation of a permanent moon base and a city on Mars. While the feasibility of this goal in economic, technological, and political terms remains uncertain, Musk and SpaceX have garnered a dedicated following supportive of the vision.
Aside from lunar and Martian missions, Starship has a diverse agenda. Plans include offering deep space trips to paying customers, with billionaire Jared Isaacman leading a development program in collaboration with SpaceX. Additionally, Starship is slated to launch batches of SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which provide global internet service. There is also potential for Starship to deploy new scientific instruments like space-based telescopes.
