Starship & Human Landing System: announced vs achieved
SpaceX · last verified 2026-10-02
Starship is SpaceX's fully reusable launch system. A Starship variant is one of two landers NASA is funding for Artemis crewed lunar landings. SpaceX has also publicly discussed Mars missions. This page tracks dated public statements about lander milestones and Mars, not engineering merit.
Claims tracked
4
Achieved
0
On track
0
Slipped
2
Dropped
1
Unknown
1
Met on original date
0% (0 of 3 decided)
Average delay where late
18 months
Timeline of claims
Timeline key: dot = announced, diamond = original target, coloured dot = outcome or current target, dashed line = today.
SpaceX: September 2026
SlippedStarship & Human Landing System
Crewed lunar landing with Starship HLS (Artemis III as then defined) in September 2026, described as the date NASA was 'definitively' working toward.
Announced
Original target
September 2026
Current target
February 2028 (NASA: first landing early 2028 (Artemis IV); month is an approximation of 'early 2028')
Months late
Current target is 17 months after the original
Source confidence
Primary or official source checked
Last verified
NASA's Feb 27, 2026 update redefines Artemis III as a 2027 Earth-orbit test and moves the first landing to Artemis IV. Which lander (SpaceX and/or Blue Origin) flies the landing is not yet decided.
Ship-to-ship propellant transfer demonstration in orbit: tests expected to begin around March 2025 (NASA HLS official, describing a milestone SpaceX added to its HLS contract).
Announced
Original target
March 2025
Months late
At least 19 months past the original target and not yet delivered
Source confidence
Reputable secondary source
Last verified
Not yet flown as of the evidence date. SpaceX has said it may attempt it as soon as Flight 15 (speculation per Space.com; no official mission profile). Slip shown is a minimum (to today).
Uncrewed Starship landing on Mars as soon as late 2026 (Musk statement reported by CNN as made in May 2025).
Announced
(day of month not verified)
Original target
Late 2026 (Mars window)
Months late
Not applicable
Source confidence
Reputable secondary source
Last verified
Dropped for the late-2026 Mars window. On Feb 8, 2026 Musk wrote that SpaceX would still start on a Mars city in about 5 to 7 years. Exact day of the May 2025 statement not verified.
Uncrewed Starship lunar landing targeted for March 2027 (SpaceX told investors, per Reuters citing a WSJ report).
Announced
Original target
March 2027
Months late
Not applicable
Source confidence
Reputable secondary source
Last verified
Not yet due. Flight 14 (Sept 28, 2026) was Starship's first orbital flight and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. No updated lunar-landing date was found. Investor-communication report, not a public SpaceX press release.