NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) raised concerns about the number of SpaceX Starship flights required for the Artemis 4 lunar landing. Former astronaut Charlie Precourt said at a quarterly meeting that the current estimate is around 22 flights to refuel the orbital depot. This is higher than NASA's earlier estimates of 10 to 20 tanker flights.
Elon Musk quickly disputed the figure on X, stating that the actual number will be more like 6 to 8. ASAP plans to recommend that NASA re-examine its Artemis 4 plans to establish a more balanced approach to risk. The panel emphasized the need for a detailed testing plan to ensure all risks are identified and mitigated for a successful crewed lunar landing.