SpaceX Will Test Propellant Transfer in Space in 2025

By early 2025, SpaceX plans to conduct a significant in-flight propellant transfer test that is pivotal for its Starship program and NASA's Artemis mission to the Moon. The test will involve two Starships launching to low Earth orbit and performing a propellant transfer, a crucial step in advancing deep space missions. Previously, during a third test flight, SpaceX successfully transferred around 10 metric tons of liquid oxygen between tanks in space. The upcoming demonstration will represent a considerable increase in the volume of propellant transferred. SpaceX is under a $53.2 million contract with NASA to develop Starship for the Artemis program. It aims to facilitate crewed missions to the Moon, with plans to launch multiple propellant tankers into orbit to support the refueling of the Human Landing System Starship. As they prepare for the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for a lunar landing in September 2026, SpaceX faces mounting pressure to deliver the required capabilities. The Starship's upper stage needs to perform precise landings on the Moon, and extensive preparations must occur to ensure both Starships can operate smoothly in orbit. Critics have noted the slow pace of development, although recent progress has been made with the rocket’s booster test flights. More propellant tanker missions are expected to follow the initial test to build a fuel depot in orbit by early next year. Ultimately, these tests are critical for not just attaining a Moon mission but for establishing capabilities necessary for future deep space exploration, thereby unlocking opportunities for substantial payload movement beyond Earth's orbit.