NASA Tests the New Starship Docking System

The Apollo Program delivered 12 American astronauts to the surface of the Moon. But that program ended in 1972, and since then, no human beings have visited. However, the Artemis program is set to change that narrative. Instead of just visiting the Moon, Artemis aims to establish a longer-term presence on the lunar surface. This ambitious goal requires more complexity than the Apollo missions did. Astronauts will need to transfer between vehicles in order to navigate the lunar environment effectively.

One crucial component of this intricate process is a reliable spacecraft docking system. When Artemis astronauts embark on their journey from Earth, they will be aboard the four-seat Orion spacecraft. Orion will transport them to lunar orbit, where two astronauts will transfer into the Starship HLS while the remaining two will stay aboard Orion. The Starship HLS will then ferry them to the Moon’s surface. In the future, the Lunar Gateway will be stationed in orbit around the Moon, facilitating the transfer of astronauts from Orion to the Gateway and eventually to the Starship HLS.

These intricate transfers between spacecraft pose significant challenges and risks. The docking system that will enable these maneuvers is SpaceX’s Starship HLS docking system, which is based on the successful Dragon 2 docking system. The Dragon 2 system has been instrumental in enabling the Dragon 2 spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) for crew and equipment transfers since 2020.

NASA, in collaboration with SpaceX, has been diligently testing the new Starship HLS docking system. A recent ten-day testing session at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, involved over 200 different docking scenarios with varying speeds and angles. The data from these extensive tests will inform ongoing computer simulations of the docking system and guide future testing and design iterations.

The Starship HLS docking system features both an active and a passive mode, with one spacecraft designated as the chaser and the other as the target during docking. The recent testing phase focused on demonstrating the soft capture procedure, wherein the chaser extends its soft capture system while the target spacecraft’s system remains retracted. This method allows the chaser to take the lead in ensuring a successful docking through the use of latches and other mechanisms.

One key requirement for the HLS is redundancy in crew egress/ingress, which the soft capture procedure appears to address effectively. SpaceX has already achieved significant milestones in the development of the Starship HLS, including power generation, communications, guidance and navigation, propulsion, life support, and space environments protection.

While the focus often lies on the spectacular rocket launches, the successful execution of missions like Artemis hinges on various critical components beyond the launch vehicles. NASA underscores the importance of the Human Landing System program within the Artemis mission, highlighting its role in advancing science, utilizing lunar resources, and leveraging lunar knowledge for future Mars missions. Though docking systems may not always capture the limelight, they play a pivotal role in mission success.

Against the backdrop of challenges and delays faced by the Artemis program, any progress in advancing the Starship HLS docking system is welcome news. Initially slated for a 2025 launch, Artemis is now facing a delay of at least a year, with additional launches by SpaceX required before the mission can proceed. Amidst these challenges, advancements in crucial technologies like the docking system signify strides towards achieving the ambitious goals of the Artemis program.