This year will mark a turning point in humanity’s relationship with the moon, when we begin to lay the groundwork for a permanent presence on its surface, paving the way for our natural satellite to become an industrial hub—which will lead us to Mars and beyond. Developing the lunar economy boils down to three critical elements: the ability to get there, means to refuel for the return trip, and profitable enterprises operating on the lunar surface. And, by 2025, technology in all three areas will finally become a reality. For nearly a decade, the giants of private space exploration—SpaceX and Blue Origin—have been locked in a race to reach the moon. SpaceX’s newest rocket, the Starship, is central to this effort. At nearly twice the height (121 meters vs. 70 meters), and three times the width (9 meters vs. 3.7 meters) of its predecessor, the Falcon 9, the Starship certainly has size—but it’s also designed to change the way we think about space. travel. Unlike traditional rockets, which are used once and then thrown away, the Starship can be reused for several flights and even refueled while in orbit. The increased power means it can send about 100 metric tons of payload to the moon in one trip—which is about the same as all payloads sent to the moon in history combined, but that’s just one go. Traditional rockets can deliver only about 0.1 percent of the total takeoff weight to the moon, but Starship, with its refueling capabilities, can deliver about 2 percent. Picture this: If a traditional rocket were a moving truck, it would be like using 18 wheels to deliver a single suitcase. With Starship, the cost per ton of payload sent to the lunar surface drops, making lunar missions more affordable. Not far from the Blue Origin Blue Moon lander. Although smaller than a Starship, with a capacity of nearly 3 metric tons, the Blue Moon was designed to deliver heavy equipment and infrastructure, equipment that would transform the moon from a barren outpost into a thriving industrial base. Together, these vehicles lay the groundwork for a new lunar economy. By 2025, SpaceX plans to demonstrate the full capabilities of Starship, including the ability to refuel in orbit and reuse it – reducing lunar transportation costs and making the moon more accessible. from ever. This is part of a series of orbital flight tests, which began in 2023 and will continue until 2024, and will be carried out in 2025.
