SpaceX's new Starship HLS Interior Design to Land on the Moon in 2028, but Super Heavy Booster…

During a recent Artemis 3 update, SpaceX Vice President Jessica Jensen revealed something many people weren't expecting. We're also actively building our first flight-fidelity Starship HLS cabin at Starbase. The primary structure is assembled and prepared to be outfitted with key functional systems like avionics, power, life support systems, and more to come in the next few months. Living inside a spacecraft the size of a small skyscraper, it almost sounds like science fiction. But that's exactly the future SpaceX hopes to build with Starship HLS. Can you imagine living inside a spacecraft larger than many buildings on Earth? Would you sign up? For many space enthusiasts, the answer is probably yes. But here's something interesting. When was the last time you heard a meaningful update about the interior of Starship HLS? For months, things have been surprisingly quiet. Well, that silence has finally been broken. NASA and SpaceX recently shared a new update on the lunar version of Starship. So how far along is the project and what might the inside of humanity's next lunar spacecraft actually look like? Let's dive into it on today's episode of Great SpaceX to find out. Lately, one of the biggest concerns surrounding Starship, especially the human landing system variant, has been its progress. The calendar keeps moving. Major Artemis missions are drawing closer, yet we've heard relatively little about the spacecraft's interior or the systems astronauts will actually live inside. That has led many to wonder. Has work slowed down? Or is SpaceX simply keeping things behind closed doors? Work on Starship HLS isn't just happening on paper, it's already taking shape at Starbase. Which naturally raises another question. Have we actually been looking at it this entire time? Could it be that distinctive black and white nose cone sitting near the production site? Or perhaps another structure tucked away inside Starfactory? We don't know for certain, but based on Jessica Jensen's comments, confidence is growing that SpaceX remains on track to support the planned 2028 crewed lunar landing mission. That also suggests we could begin seeing much more visible hardware as early as next year. One important detail deserves clarification though. This Fidelity cabin isn't the actual flight hardware that will land astronauts during Artemis 3. Instead, it's a high-fidelity engineering article designed to develop and validate the spacecraft's internal systems. For Artemis 3 itself, SpaceX's primary focus appears to remain on docking hardware and testing compatibility with the Orion spacecraft rather than completing the final interior layout. Meaning, the vehicle astronauts eventually fly will likely be even more refined. Still, this raises an exciting question. What could living inside Starship HLS actually be like? To answer that, let's start with its size. From the outside, Starship is an enormous stainless steel cylinder standing more than 50 meters tall and measuring 9 meters across. Imagine climbing out of Orion, a spacecraft already considered spacious by Apollo standards, and stepping into something that feels less like another capsule and more like entering an entirely different building. It's an astonishing difference. Interestingly, astronauts won't use the entire height of Starship as living space. Most of the habitable area occupies only the upper portion of the vehicle, including the payload bay and nose cone spanning roughly the top 20 meters. Even so, the available internal volume is enormous. After accounting for structural walls, the tapered nose, and the liquid oxygen header tank near the top, Starship HLS could still offer well over 1,000 cubic meters of habitable volume. More pressurized living space than the entire ISS, and that's only the current version. Future Starship variants, such as V4, could become even larger. If those upgrades materialize, future crewed Starships might eventually support dozens of passengers, perhaps even approaching 100 people under certain mission profiles. That's an extraordinary leap compared with today's spacecraft. Such capacity wouldn't just expand scientific research, it could fundamentally reshape long duration spaceflight, commercial space stations, and perhaps one day, space tourism itself. So how do you organize that much space? One possibility is that SpaceX divides Starship into multiple functional levels, each dedicated to a different aspect of life in space. Think of it less like a rocket and more like a vertical apartment building designed for the moon and beyond. Let's take a tour. We'll start at the lowest habitable level. Every home depends on reliable utilities, such as electricity, water, air circulation, heating and cooling, and Starship is no different. The lowest deck, located just above the propellant dome, could house the spacecraft's primary utility systems, effectively serving as Starship's mechanical room, where power distribution, environmental control, water management, and life support equipment quietly keep the vehicle running. Because this level sits closest to the payload section, it could also serve another important purpose, storing mission equipment, scientific instruments, rovers, robotics, and perhaps even supplies for future lunar expeditions. It's also a logical occasion for one of Starship's airlocks, giving astronauts direct access to the lunar surface during EVA operations. Moving upward, the second level becomes much more familiar. This is where everyday living begins. One particularly exciting possibility is the inclusion of small gardens. Yes, gardens. Growing fresh vegetables offers more than just better meals. Fresh produce provides nutritional benefits that packaged food simply can't match, while caring for living plants can have a meaningful psychological impact during long-duration missions, because sometimes, seeing something green is exactly what people need after months surrounded by stainless steel. Naturally, this level would also include the galley and dining area. Future space kitchens will almost certainly look very different from today's, with cooking equipment redesigned to function safely in reduced gravity, while making meal preparation easier and more enjoyable. Next comes another essential part of everyday life, exercise. Long periods in low gravity weaken muscles, reduce bone density, and affect cardiovascular health, making regular physical training not just important, but mandatory. That makes the third level an ideal location for fitness equipment, including treadmills, resistance systems, and strength training devices, alongside hygiene facilities such as showers and restrooms specifically designed for reduced-gravity environments. Who knows? Future innovations may even incorporate localized artificial gravity to simplify everyday tasks. That brings us to one of the most personal areas aboard the spacecraft. The fourth level, privacy. Even astronauts need a place to recharge. Individual sleeping quarters could be arranged around the outer wall, much like Japanese capsule hotels. Compact, efficient, and comfortable enough to give each crew member a private space for sleeping, relaxing, working, or communicating with family back on Earth. After long work days, exploring another world, having a quiet place to unwind becomes incredibly important. Above that lies what may become Starship's most breathtaking location, the fifth level. This could be the spacecraft's observation deck. Large viewing windows could give astronauts spectacular panoramic views of the Earth, the Moon, deep space, or eventually, Mars, though they would require advanced shielding against radiation, micrometeoroids, and extreme thermal environments. Beyond offering unforgettable views, this level could also serve as a communal gathering area for recreation, research, and relaxation. Finally, at the very top of the habitable section sits the smallest level, located just beneath the liquid oxygen header tank. This area naturally has less available volume, making it well-suited for specialized operations such as mission planning, private conferences, scientific analysis, or command activities that require a quieter workspace. So, which floor would you spend the most time on? Let me know with the floor number in the comment section down below. Of course, a spacecraft is much more than its living quarters. Many of its most important systems remain hidden behind the walls. Power generation is a perfect example. Although Starship's cryogenic propellants contribute indirectly by supporting thermal management, the spacecraft's primary electrical power will almost certainly come from large solar arrays. Current concepts show those panels unfolding alongside the vehicle. Some resemble giant wings, while others fan outward in a way that's surprisingly reminiscent of a peacock displaying its feathers. But regardless of the design, they're intended to provide continuous electrical power for life support systems, communications, computers, and scientific equipment. Batteries will also play an essential role. Much like Tesla's energy storage technology here on Earth, onboard battery systems would keep Starship operating whenever sunlight becomes unavailable. Another critical component is the airlock system. This serves as the gateway connecting astronauts to the outside world, and for Artemis 3, it'll be especially important because Starship HLS must dock with Orion before transporting astronauts to the lunar surface. That raises another interesting question. How many airlocks might Starship eventually have? Possibly, more than one. A docking airlock near the top of the spacecraft could support crew transfers between Starship and visiting spacecraft, while another located lower down near the payload section could be dedicated to lunar surface EVAs. Recent images of Starship HLS testing hardware at NASA facilities even suggest SpaceX may be evaluating multiple airlock configurations, which, if true, would provide greater operational flexibility during future missions. Returning humans to the moon. That's one of the biggest goals SpaceX has set for Starship over the next few years, and it's definitely not something they'll attempt without extensive preparation. That's why both SpaceX and NASA are ramping up development. A new Super Heavy Booster test, supported by NASA, has just been announced. On top of that, we now have a better idea of when Starship's uncrewed lunar landing demonstration could take place. There's a lot to unpack. We're now well into the second half of 2026. That means the countdown is officially underway for some of Starship's biggest milestones yet. Orbital refueling, docking demonstrations, and, ultimately, returning astronauts to the moon. For SpaceX, the clock is ticking. The company has entered a critical phase of development, and the pace is only accelerating. If you don't want to miss the latest Starship updates and the biggest stories across the aerospace industry, be sure to subscribe. The next few years could completely reshape the future of spaceflight. Now let's begin with one of the most interesting recent developments. A new Super Heavy test involving NASA. Normally, when we hear about Starship testing, we immediately think of SpaceX. After all, they're the company designing, building, and flying the vehicle. This time, however, NASA is playing a direct role. At first glance, you might assume the testing is focused on Starship's human landing system. Surprisingly, it isn't. Instead, NASA is helping evaluate the standard Super Heavy Booster. The agency recently announced on social media, NASA and its partners are preparing for Artemis 3 by completing new wind tunnel tests on SpaceX's Super Heavy V3 rocket booster. The tests at NASA Ames Research Center focused on better understanding what the rocket will experience during reentry. NASA later provided additional details, explaining that the test is designed to better understand the extreme aerodynamic forces the rocket can experience during reentry. In other words, engineers are studying exactly what Super Heavy experiences as it descends back through Earth's atmosphere before returning to the launch site. The campaign uses a version 3 booster model built at roughly 1.2% scale. That model is tested on multiple wind tunnels covering a broad range of flight conditions. One tunnel simulates airflow from approximately Mach 0.2 to Mach 1.4. Another supersonic facility operates between Mach 1.55 and Mach 2.5. Together, these tests allow engineers to evaluate how the upgraded booster behaves throughout some of the most demanding phases of atmospheric flight. NASA also emphasized that the effort highlights the close partnership between the agency and SpaceX under the Artemis program. The agency explained, the upgraded Super Heavy rocket booster is part of SpaceX's Starship launch system. Version 3 of Starship and Super Heavy is expected to be the basis for the Starship HLS for Artemis 3 in 2027 and a later crewed lunar landing in 2028. NASA added, although Starship HLS is a lunar lander designed and built by SpaceX, NASA collaborates with commercial companies to provide access to specialized testing facilities like the wind tunnels at NASA Ames and technical expertise such as the team that set up the wind tunnel testing and helped analyze the results. That's one of NASA's greatest strengths. After decades of developing world-class research facilities, the agency can provide commercial partners with testing capabilities that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. Even though SpaceX builds Starship, NASA's experience and infrastructure continue to play an important supporting role. NASA also highlighted several of the major upgrades planned for Super Heavy version 3. These include improvements to the propulsion system, the introduction of Raptor 3 engines, and the removal of the large engine skirt used on previous versions. In its place, individual engine shrouds provide more efficient protection for each engine, while the integrated base heat shield has also been redesigned. Another noticeable change is the grid fin configuration. Version 3 uses three grid fins instead of four. However, each fin is roughly 50% larger, allowing the booster to maintain the necessary control authority while simplifying the overall design. NASA also pointed to the redesigned hot stage section. Instead of relying on a disposable protective interstage, the upgraded booster incorporates an integrated hot staging system designed for repeated reuse. Ultimately, NASA and SpaceX hope to gather more information about the steady and unsteady aerodynamic forces the rocket will experience during atmospheric reentry as it returns to the launch site for refurbishment and reuse. That's an exciting objective. These wind tunnel tests could reveal characteristics of version 3 long before they're observed during flight. More importantly, they could help address some of the remaining challenges SpaceX still faces. Recent Starship missions have demonstrated tremendous progress, but Super Heavy isn't perfect yet. Engine startup issues have delayed launches, some flights have experienced engine anomalies, and while booster recoveries have been remarkably successful, there's still room for improvement before the system reaches the level of reliability SpaceX ultimately wants. For Artemis, reliability isn't just an advantage. It's a requirement. NASA needs confidence that every system will perform exactly as intended. That's why these wind tunnel tests matter. They're not simply academic research. They're helping pave the way for future missions to the moon. And it'll be fascinating to see what improvements emerge from this growing NASA-SpaceX partnership. Now let's move on to another major milestone on Starship's roadmap, the uncrewed human landing system demonstration. When the Artemis schedule looked different, SpaceX hoped to fly in late 2026, with Artemis 3 landing astronauts on the moon in 2027. Since then, those timelines have slipped, raising one question. What happens to the demonstration mission? A recent Government Accountability Office report appears to have the answer. NASA and SpaceX are now targeting approximately February of 2028 for the uncrewed Starship HLS lunar landing demonstration. The revised schedule gives SpaceX more time to mature Starship through orbital refueling, docking, and additional orbital flights before attempting a lunar landing. NASA has also indicated that the HLS program's initial focus is proving rendezvous and docking with Orion before shifting to crewed lunar landings. That means the demonstration vehicle will likely share most of the crewed version's core systems, with the emphasis on mission-critical hardware rather than crew accommodations. That includes the propulsion system, landing engines, reaction control thrusters, landing legs, power generation, solar arrays, the crew elevator, and, of course, orbital refueling. Successfully demonstrating those systems would be a major step toward operational lunar missions. Expectations are high. Recent lunar missions have shown how difficult landing on the moon remains. Some spacecraft never arrived. Others failed shortly after landing, while only a handful completed their objectives. Starship presents an even greater challenge. It's far larger, much heavier, and stands like a skyscraper on landing legs. Can it land with the required precision? Can it remain stable on the lunar surface? Can it operate safely in the harsh lunar environment? Those are exactly the questions this mission is designed to answer before astronauts ever step aboard. So, what do you think? Are you excited to watch Starship attempt its first landing on the moon? Let me know in the comments with a simple yes or no. You may have noticed that I haven't spent much time talking about S40's landing. That's intentional, because in many ways, it all leads to the moon. Every successful Starship landing on Earth helps prepare it for landing on the lunar surface. Today's ocean splashdowns and eventually megazilla catches aren't just about rapid reusability. They're also teaching SpaceX how to precisely control an enormous spacecraft during the most critical phase of flight. Just look at Flight 13. The Super Heavy booster completed ascent, separated cleanly, executed its flip maneuver, and returned without repeating the Raptor engine damage seen on Flight 12. S40 reached several major milestones as well. It overcame earlier engine issues, deployed the first batch of simulated V3 Starlink satellites, restarted its engines in orbit, survived re-entry with a significantly improved heat shield, maintained excellent control during descent, and, most importantly, completed splashdown without exploding. Instead, it remained afloat, giving SpaceX its first opportunity to recover and study a largely intact Starship. Every one of those achievements benefits Starship HLS. The landing sequence demonstrated precise engine ignition, controlled deceleration, accurate navigation, in-space engine relight capability, and a stable vertical touchdown. Of course, the moon has no atmosphere, making powered descent even more critical. But mastering precision landings on Earth builds confidence in the systems that matter most. Reliable engines, stable guidance, and responsive flight computers. Flight 13 also showed there's still work to do. A last-minute Raptor startup issue delayed launch, highlighting that reliability still needs improvement. On a lunar mission where launch windows are tightly constrained, such delays would carry far greater consequences. Engine reliability, heat shield development, Max-Q performance, and guidance software will all continue improving with every flight. That's why every Starship mission matters. Every success builds confidence. Every challenge delivers data. Every flight brings SpaceX one step closer to the moon. Flight 13 wasn't just another test. It became one of Starship's most important stepping stones toward Artemis, and its lessons could help shape humanity's first uncrewed Starship landing on the moon. And that's it for today's episode. If you enjoyed it, don't forget to leave a like, subscribe to GreatSpaceX, and ring the notification bell so you never miss the latest updates on Starship, SpaceX, and humanity's exciting journey into the future of space exploration. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next one.