NASA and SpaceX have updated their plans for spacecraft-to-spacecraft propellant transfer development. Currently, the company and the agency are working on developing fuel transfer hardware, and the first ship-to-ship test is scheduled for next year.

This is a major milestone in developing a lunar lander for the Artemis program. SpaceX’s Starship will serve as the primary Human Landing System (HLS) in the American-led campaign to return to the moon since 1972. To function as an HLS, a starship will need to be able to refuel in orbit before going to the Moon and landing upon it.