The US space enterprise is desperately waiting for Starship—will it finally deliver?

Starship is the US space enterprise’s only viable shot at competing with China’s lunar timeline, yet delays and technical hurdles make every launch feel like a last chance. SpaceX’s giant rocket must achieve orbit by mid-2026 to stay ahead of China’s crewed lunar landing, currently targeted for 2030. The vehicle has failed twice in high-altitude tests, costing $4 billion in development so far, and each subsequent attempt carries the weight of billions more and the entire Artemis program schedule. Compared to the runner-up rocket on this list—the revolutionary cancer treatment that promises similar groundbreaking impact—Starship’s stakes are uniquely existential for national space ambitions, with 80% of NASA’s lunar hardware relying on its success.