Updated

A new estimate reported October 22, 2026 puts the number of Starship launches required to support a single crewed Moon landing at 22, reflecting the extensive refueling operations needed for the lunar lander. The figure underscores the logistical scale of using Starship as the lander vehicle for NASA's Artemis program. The high launch count highlights ongoing questions about the feasibility and cost of SpaceX's architecture for returning astronauts to the lunar surface, with analysts noting the numerous required orbital fuelings as a key technical challenge.