NASA has officially added SpaceX’s giant Starship megarocket to its list of approved launches, clearing the way for the rocket’s use in future missions to the moon and Mars. The agreement is part of a multi-award contract with SpaceX, which will allow the company to launch NASA payloads on Starship rockets.
The Starship vehicle, standing 123 meters tall, is designed to be fully reusable and has successfully completed eight test flights since 2023. However, its most recent two test missions ended in failure due to issues with the upper stage during ascent.
NASA has already chosen a lunar version of Starship for its Artemis 3 mission, which aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2027. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk plans to use Starship to send humans to Mars in the future.
The contract award comes as part of NASA’s efforts to secure commercial launch services for various missions, including Earth-orbiting satellites and planetary probes. The deal will run through June 2030 and cover a period of performance through December 2032.
With this addition, SpaceX joins a roster that already includes the reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters. The company’s ability to launch NASA payloads on Starship rockets is expected to provide an additional option for the agency’s future missions.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/nasa-adds-spacex-starship-largest-rocket-on-earth-to-launch-roster