Key facts
- Elon Musk disputes NASA's estimate of 22 Starship launches for a Moon landing.
- Musk suggests 6 to 8 launches are sufficient.
- Uncertainty remains regarding propellant boil-off and transfer efficiency.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk has disputed an estimate from a NASA safety panel suggesting that 22 Starship launches would be necessary to support a lunar landing. Musk stated that the actual number would be closer to six to eight. The panel's estimate, cited by Precourt, highlights uncertainties in propellant boil-off and transfer efficiency during orbital refueling. NASA is currently targeting a human lunar landing for 2028, with efforts underway to streamline development processes for lunar landers.