SpaceX aims to catch a Starship upper stage during its next flight and to reuse the vehicle rapidly, according to company executives. The company also intends to conduct a long-delayed in-orbit refueling test in early 2027, a step that could support lunar landings under NASA's Artemis program.

The refueling demonstration will involve transferring liquid oxygen and methane between two Starship vehicles in low-Earth orbit. This will be the first attempt at such a transfer at scale, and the data gathered will inform estimates of how many launches are needed to support a lunar landing. SpaceX says the test will also provide insight into boil-off rates and the efficiency of propellant transfers in space.

Company leadership outlined a timeline that includes a high flight cadence for Starship. Elon Musk has said he expects the rocket to achieve a weekly launch rate during the first half of 2027, with the potential for twice-weekly flights later in the year. Achieving this cadence depends on how quickly the company can refurbish and relaunch boosters without extensive maintenance.

"The rate at which we launch Starship will increase dramatically as we solve rapid and complete reusability," Musk said. "At first there will be a little bit of refurbishment that’s needed between each flight, and we’ll iron out the need for any refurbishment such that you can immediately land the rocket and launch it again, just like an airplane."

In addition to Starship development, SpaceX plans to continue launching Starlink V3 satellites and Starmind data center prototypes in 2027. The company did not address recent reports about throttling Starlink services in Ukraine during its earnings discussion.

The upcoming test flight and refueling effort represent key milestones for SpaceX’s long-term goals of enabling sustainable lunar missions and eventually supporting deeper space exploration.