--- title: "Elon Musk-approved Render Shows Two Starships, uh, Exchanging Fluids" description: "A new render by SpaceX enthusiast Erc X on Twitter shows the two giant stainless-steel Starship spacecraft meeting in space for a refueling session." date: "2021-08-09" modified: "2021-08-09" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-approved-render-starships-refueling" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "Space" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "the digest" --- # Elon Musk-approved Render Shows Two Starships, uh, Exchanging Fluids ![A new render by SpaceX enthusiast Erc X on Twitter shows the two giant stainless-steel Starship spacecraft meeting in space for a refueling session.]() *\Image: SpaceX/Futurism\* ## Orbital Romance SpaceX's Starship spacecraft won't be able to make it all the way to the Moon, nevermind Mars, all by itself. To get into orbit and then continue its journey, each Mars- or Moon-bound Starship will have to meet up in orbit with its brethren in order to fuel up for the journey beyond Earth. How many extra Starships it will take to get a single one to the Moon is still unclear. What will that process look like? A [new render]() by a SpaceX enthusiast shows the sensual act of two giant stainless-steel spacecraft meeting in space for a refueling session — and drew the approval of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who [replied with two fire emojis](). You'd be forgiven for thinking the display, which suggests that the ships will float belly to belly to transfer propellant, looks a bit sexual. Seriously, just look at it. https://twitter.com/ErcXspace/status/1424473919508131840 https://twitter.com/daily_hopper/status/1424507439328727042 ## Mission Priority In-orbit refueling is integral to the space company's mission. In October, NASA awarded SpaceX a [$53 million contract]() to perform a propellant transfer demonstration. "Combining Starship’s rapid reusability with orbital refilling is critical to economically transporting large numbers of crew and cargo to the Moon and Mars," SpaceX wrote in [a tweet]() at the time. The test, which has yet to be scheduled, will involve ten metric tons of liquid oxygen being transferred from Starship to another. But first, SpaceX will have to demonstrate that its Starship and Super Heavy are able to get into orbit in the first place. The company is [inching closer]() to its first-ever [orbital test launch]() — and only then will the company be able to start seriously considering an orbital refueling maneuver. **More on Starship:** *[SpaceX Just Mounted Starship on Top of the Super Heavy Booster]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()