How many refueling flights does Starship need for a Moon landing?
“That’s way too high. Actual number will be more like 6 to 8.”
— Elon Musk, 22 October 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive
Subjects / The Moon
The Moon
9 answers
Will SpaceX build a base on the Moon?
“Moonbase Alpha will be so cool. And we want to make it so that anyone can go to the Moon if they want. Starship can enable a permanently crewed science station on the Moon, which would be super cool! Moonbase Alpha!!”
— Elon Musk, 11 August 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive
Will SpaceX go to the Moon / build a Moon base?
“Mostly true. What matters is securing the long-term future of consciousness, both on Earth and other heavenly bodies. We cannot just focus on Earth, because there are irreducible external (eg massive meteor) and internal (eg global nuclear war) cataclysmic risks. The Moon is faster to make self-growing, but is more susceptible to problems on Earth. Mars will take longer to make self-growing, because it is so hard to reach, but is more secure from Earth disasters for that same reason. Both the Moon and Mars should have self-growing civilizations. Making this happen is the prime directive of SpaceX.”
— Elon Musk, 26 May 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive
Will SpaceX go to the Moon / build a Moon base?
“The priority shift is because I’m worried that a natural or manmade catastrophe stops the resupply ships coming from Earth, causing the colony to die out. We can make the Moon city self-growing in less than 10 years, but Mars will take 20+ years due to the 26 month iteration cycle. That is what matters most. There is also an AI bonus element, but the prime directive must be ensuring the long-term survival of consciousness.”
— Elon Musk, 9 February 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive
Will SpaceX go to the Moon / build a Moon base?
“We’re still going to Mars and the timeframe for building a self-growing city there is still about the same at 20 to 30 years. It’s possible that revenue from lunar activities might actually accelerate Mars.”
— Elon Musk, 9 February 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive
When will Starship be fully and rapidly reusable?
“Making a fully reusable orbital rocket of any design is one of the hardest engineering problems of all time. Much, much harder than going to the Moon, which is why it still hasn’t been solved. I am cautiously optimistic that Starship will achieve full reusability next year. The other critical technology, albeit much easier, is orbital refilling. If fortune favors us, that will also be achieved next year. Then consciousness and life as we know it can extend to the planets and hence to the stars.”
— Elon Musk, 22 August 2025 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive
On NASA and the Moon
“NASA has selected Starship for the transport of astronauts to the lunar surface…”
— Elon Musk, 17 November 2021 · Watch: NASEM Space Studies Board · 12:18 ↗ · In the archive
When will you test orbital refueling?
“We don't need orbital refueling. Unless you're going to the Moon, you need orbital refueling. Going to Mars, you need orbital refueling. Delivering satellites to Earth orbit, you do not need orbital refueling.”
— Elon Musk, 30 July 2021 · Watch: Starbase Tour with Everyday Astronaut — Part 2 · 29:47 ↗ · In the archive
Will you fly BFR around the Moon without people first?
“I'm not sure if we will actually test a flight around the moon or not but probably we will try to do that without people over for sending people that would be wise…”
— Elon Musk, 17 September 2018 · Watch: SpaceX BFR Lunar Mission Announcement · 1:04:29 ↗ · In the archive