Starship engine issues cast doubt on NASA’s 2028 lunar landing plan
A propulsion anomaly during SpaceX’s 14th Starship test flight on 28 September 2026 has introduced fresh uncertainty into NASA’s timeline to land astronauts on the Moon. The mission, which successfully achieved Earth orbit and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, was undermined by the premature shutdown of one Raptor engine on the Super Heavy booster and another on the Starship upper stage. Despite these failures, the spacecraft completed its orbital trajectory and executed a controlled splashdown in the Pacific.
Critical contract milestones at risk
NASA has entrusted SpaceX with developing the Human Landing System (HLS) for its Artemis programme — the vehicle meant to carry astronauts from lunar orbit down to the Moon’s surface. This contract, central to the agency’s goal of returning humans to the Moon by early 2028, now faces scrutiny. Payments tied to key development milestones are contingent on performance, and the latest engine failures raise questions about whether the necessary reliability thresholds can be met.
The Artemis III docking test, scheduled for late 2027, is now under pressure. This mission was to include a crewed orbital rehearsal where astronauts would dock Orion with a Starship variant. While NASA has announced a revised version of Artemis III for summer 2027, the new mission will focus solely on Earth-orbital docking procedures — effectively decoupling crew flight from lunar descent. This shift acknowledges that the lunar landing itself will not occur until 2028.
Competing solutions gain traction
In response to the reliability concerns, NASA has actively encouraged progress from its backup partner, Blue Origin, which is developing the Blue Moon lander. Agency officials have reiterated that they will use whichever vehicle reaches operational readiness first. This dual-track approach, while de-risking the programme, adds urgency for SpaceX to resolve its propulsion issues.
Engine evolution versus persistent flaws
The Raptor 3 engine — introduced to simplify the design by removing external piping and enhancing thermal resilience — was expected to improve performance. Yet, despite modifications implemented after the Flight 12 failure in May 2026, including improved purge systems, joint preload adjustments, and upgraded software alarms, similar failures reappeared. This suggests the root cause may be systemic rather than isolated.
The United States Office of Inspector General has warned that in-orbit cryogenic propellant transfer, a vital procedure for lunar missions, remains unproven. Without a validated refueling capability, Starship cannot function as designed for Artemis missions.
No rescue plan for lunar emergencies
A critical oversight remains: no contingency plan exists to rescue astronauts if Starship fails to dock or becomes stranded on the lunar surface. The Office of Inspector General has explicitly flagged this gap — a vulnerability the Artemis programme has yet to address. For UAE-based observers following global space initiatives, this underscores how complex, high-stakes missions require not just technological brilliance, but rigorous fail-safes.
SpaceX has not issued a public statement on corrective measures for the latest anomaly. NASA has not formally delayed the 2028 target, but the path to meeting it has grown narrower. The coming months will reveal whether technical adjustments can restore confidence — or whether programme delays become inevitable.
