The Artemis program, which is pivotal for extending human scientific endeavors on the Moon, involves numerous complexities, such as the transferring of crew between various spacecraft for lunar landings. To accommodate this process, NASA has teamed up with SpaceX to conduct qualification testing of the docking system for Starship, which plays a key role in facilitating these crew transfers.
In the upcoming Artemis III mission, astronauts are set to utilize Orion for their journey from Earth to the Moon’s orbit. Upon docking of the spacecraft, the crew will board SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS), tasked with descending them to the lunar surface. Subsequent to their missions on the Moon, the Starship will be responsible for reuniting the astronauts with the Orion spacecraft, which will be in lunar orbit. For future Artemis missions, the plan is to transition crew from Orion to Starship through the Gateway lunar space station. With its origins in the proven Dragon 2 docking system which services the International Space Station, the Starship docking system is versatile enough to link Starship either to Orion or to Gateway.
At the Johnson Space Center belonging to NASA, the Starship HLS docking system underwent 10 days of testing that replicated the dynamics of spacecraft docking in orbit. These tests included diverse docking attempts totaling over 200, each with varying angles and speeds of approach. The success of these trials provides empirical substantiation to the computer models of the docking system designated for the Moon lander.
The tests confirmed that the Starship’s docking system could achieve “soft capture” during active docking operations. The process of docking involves one spacecraft acting as the “chaser” in active mode and the other as a passive “target.” A soft capture is achieved when the active system extends its soft capture system (SCS) to attach to the retracted passive system of the target spacecraft via latches and additional mechanisms.
Since SpaceX was chosen to craft the lunar lander meant to transport humans to the Moon’s surface after the Apollo era, it has accomplished over 30 HLS-oriented benchmarks. These efficacies relate to the design and testing of systems vital for power, communications, navigation, propulsion, life support, and protection against space conditions.
The Artemis program endeavors to land the first woman, the first person of color, and the first international partner astronaut on the Moon. This initiative will also set the groundwork for ensuing human missions to Mars, for the collective benefit of humanity. The role of commercial human landing systems in deep space exploration is pivotal, alongside NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, advanced spacesuits, rovers, exploration ground systems, and the Gateway orbiting outpost.
Jenalane (Rowe) Strawn
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
FAQ Section
What is the purpose of the Artemis program?
The Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface for extended scientific exploration, land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, and make preparations for future human missions to Mars.
How will astronauts transfer from Orion to the lunar surface?
Astronauts will transfer from Orion to the lunar surface using the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS) once both spacecraft are docked in lunar orbit. After completing surface activities, the Starship will ferry them back to the Orion.
What has SpaceX achieved in preparation for the HLS missions?
SpaceX has completed over 30 milestones specific to the Human Landing System, which involve the development and testing of various systems essential for the lander’s functions, including power generation, communications, guidance, and life support.
What is the significance of the Starship docking system tests?
The docking system tests validate how the Starship docking hardware will perform in real-world docking scenarios with the Orion spacecraft or the Gateway space station. This includes ensuring successful soft capture connections.
Conclusion
The recent successful testing of the SpaceX Starship docking system by NASA represents a significant step forward in the Artemis program and human lunar exploration. It illustrates the effective collaboration between government and commercial space entities to push the boundaries of spaceflight and exploration. As the Artemis missions progress, these developments not only aim to reach historical milestones by landing diverse astronauts on the Moon but also set the stage for the much-anticipated human journey to Mars, reinforcing humanity’s presence as a space-faring civilization.