What would a βsimplifiedβ Starship plan for the Moon actually look like?
In what will likely be his most consequential act as NASAβs interim leader, Sean Duffy said last month that the space agency was βopening upβ its competition to develop a lunar lander that will put humans on the surface of the Moon.
As part of this move, Duffy asked NASAβs current lunar lander contractors, SpaceX and Blue Origin, for more nimble plans. Neither has specified those plans publicly, but a recent update from SpaceX referenced a βsimplifiedβ version of the Starship system itβs building to help NASA return humans to the Moon.
βSince the contract was awarded, we have been consistently responsive to NASA as requirements for Artemis III have changed and have shared ideas on how to simplify the mission to align with national priorities,β the company said. βIn response to the latest calls, weβve shared and are formally assessing a simplified mission architecture and concept of operations that we believe will result in a faster return to the Moon while simultaneously improving crew safety.β


Β© SpaceX