The 11th test of the Starship was so perfect that SpaceX made flying the enormous rocket look easy. The company seems to be getting a handle on the largest launch system ever built.

Nevertheless, the path ahead for SpaceX to develop a Starship that can get human beings on the lunar surface is daunting. The main problem is the necessity to refuel the spacecraft in low Earth orbit before sending it to lunar orbit to dock with the Orion capsule before making the final descent.

A recent piece by CNN notes that the plan is to deploy a refueling station into Earth orbit, fill it up, and then send the Human Landing System Starship to top off. The big question is how many refueling flights will be needed.

The article gives a range of 10 to 40 refueling flights. The need to refuel adds an overwh

See Full Page