Seems SpaceX have been making a lot of progress on HLS, but due to the nature of the race to the Moon its been behind closed doors.49 milestones completed. 

 

 

 

Now that the HLS competition is open, Space X is afraid another company will have a better design, they should be afraid, what a stupid design, and they seem to think the moons surface is very level, 

11 hours ago, jymp said:

Now that the HLS competition is open, Space X is afraid another company will have a better design, they should be afraid, what a stupid design, and they seem to think the moons surface is very level, 

 

Yes, thats why they've suddenly released more information as to what's being achieved behind closed doors.

Agree re Starship HLS. I'm presuming it's going to have legs that move up and down to automatically compensate for the terrain. But precisely how you quickly get injured astronauts back up that huge lift, quickly, is a mystery. 

This thing is going to be huge!

2 hours ago, stans said:

This thing is going to be huge!

 

About the same as Starship without the booster, I think.

 

Edit: Apparently it will have self-leveling landing legs with adjustable height capabilities to cope with uneven lunar terrain.

 

 

Quote

 

Key details:

• Purpose: The adjustable legs will help the massive vehicle remain upright and stable when it lands on the Moon's varied and potentially sloped surface.
• Mechanism: The legs will likely be an advanced, more robust version of the legs used on the Falcon 9, using some form of pneumatic or hydraulic system to extend, absorb shock, and self-level.
• Autonomy: The landing sequence will heavily rely on advanced navigation systems, including LiDAR and computer vision, to help the spacecraft identify and target the most suitable, relatively flat landing sites, while the adjustable legs manage the final terrain variations.
• Evolution: The current plan for Starship HLS landing legs has evolved from initial fixed leg concepts to a more dynamic system capable of adapting to real-world lunar conditions. 

This approach, combining advanced navigation with self-leveling legs, aims to ensure a safe and stable landing, a crucial requirement for the Artemis missions.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025Nov 10 by martin-w

Would our life here on Earth be very much different if we had not spent time and money going to the moon 60 years ago? Will our life here on Earth be very much different 60 years from now if we do go to the Moon, Mars, etc. now? 

I would say that bigger does not usually mean better. And that the only benefit from going into space environments is to gain a military advantage over other nations. And i do believe that is why private and government entities are racing to get there. Military might and future government monies flowing from defense departments into private military contractors.

When explorers reached the Americas in the 1500's all they found were violent people living in squealer, rocks and rills. And uninviting forests full of danger. But at least the gravity was correct and you could breathe the air.

 

Edited November 10, 2025Nov 10 by Fielder

1 hour ago, Fielder said:

Would our life here on Earth be very much different if we had not spent time and money going to the moon 60 years ago? Will our life here on Earth be very much different 60 years from now if we do go to the Moon, Mars, etc. now? 

 

An interesting question. I'd say yes, given a myriad of beneficial  technologies came from the Apollo program. And indeed, some of them led to medical technology.

 

1 hour ago, Fielder said:

would say that bigger does not usually mean better. And that the only benefit from going into space environments is to gain a military advantage over other nations. And i do believe that is why private and government entities are racing to get there. Military might and future government monies flowing from defense departments into private military contractors.

 

Well yes, that's what's behind this endeavor to get to the Moon first and ultimately Mars, but not just politics, theres an abundance of useful resources on the Moon and Mars.

Ultimately, regardless of motivation, just like Apollo, it will accelerate technological advance and many of those technologies will benefit the man in the street.

Sorry for this lot below, but its interesting reading...

 

 

Quote

 

The Artemis program and a sustained presence on the Moon will drive significant technological advances, leading to innovations in resource utilization, autonomy and robotics, advanced communications, life support systems, and materials science. Many of these technologies will have practical applications and spin-off benefits on Earth. 

Key technology advances and their potential spin-offs include:

 

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

A primary goal of Artemis is learning to use local lunar resources to make exploration more sustainable, which reduces the need to launch everything from Earth. 

• Oxygen and Fuel Production: Technologies to extract oxygen from lunar soil (regolith) and process water ice into breathable air and rocket propellant (hydrogen and oxygen) are being developed.
  • Earth Spin-offs: Advancements in efficient, self-sustaining resource extraction and processing could improve remote mining operations or create new methods for generating oxygen in extreme environments (e.g., underwater habitats or disaster zones).
• Lunar Construction/3D Printing: Techniques to melt regolith and 3D print it into bricks for basic infrastructure (habitats, landing pads) are being tested.
  • Earth Spin-offs: Could lead to new, durable, and sustainable construction methods using local or recycled materials on Earth, particularly in remote or disaster-stricken areas. 

 

• •  

Edited November 10, 2025Nov 10 by martin-w

And some more....

 

• Quote

   

  • Advanced Communication Networks: The development of a network of lunar satellites (like the Queqiao network) will provide continuous, high-bandwidth communication capabilities.
    • Earth Spin-offs: Advances in satellite communication and networking technologies could enhance global internet access, especially in remote regions, and support emerging technologies like drone deliveries and self-driving transport. 

   

  Energy Systems

  Operating in the harsh lunar environment, which includes frigid nights and permanently shadowed regions, requires reliable power solutions. 

  • Solar and Nuclear Power: NASA is investing in large vertical solar panels designed for the poles and in small nuclear power systems.
    • Earth Spin-offs: Innovations in efficient solar power generation and compact, safe nuclear power solutions could help address energy challenges and enable off-grid power solutions on Earth.
  • Cryogenic Fluid Management: The ability to store and transfer cryogenic propellants in space for long periods will advance the handling of super-cold materials.
    • Earth Spin-offs: Could improve the efficiency and safety of transporting and storing liquid natural gas (LNG) and other cryogenic materials used in energy and medical industries. 
  •  
  • Health and Medicine: Innovations like bioprinted wound patches and radiation monitoring systems could lead to new medical treatments and monitoring techniques.

  Power and Energy Storage: Development of sustainable power sources for lunar operations will have applications for energy solutions on Earth. 

  Ultimately, Artemis serves as a "test bed" for proving the technologies needed for future human missions to Mars, while also fostering a commercial space economy that drives innovation and benefits humanity on Earth. 

   

• •  

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025Nov 10 by martin-w