NASA is pushing forward with its Artemis III mission by conducting new wind tunnel tests on SpaceX’s Super Heavy Version 3 rocket booster. These tests, conducted in late 2025 at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, used a 1.2% scale model of the rocket to collect critical data. The information gathered aims to improve the flight software and ensure the stability of Starship during its return to the launch site for reuse.
Version 3 of the Super Heavy booster has undergone significant design changes compared to its earlier iterations. It features new propulsion systems powered by Raptor 3 engines, as well as three larger gridfins, each one and a half times the size of the previous models. The booster no longer includes an engine section skirt or a large-scale base heat shield. Instead, it uses an integrated hot stage to replace the previous single-use interstage. These design adjustments have motivated NASA and SpaceX to investigate how aerodynamic forces may impact the rocket during its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
Design Changes in Super Heavy Version 3
Manish Mehta, an engineer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, emphasized the importance of the agency’s experience in aerodynamics. He noted that insights from previous wind tunnel tests on NASA’s SLS rocket for the Artemis II mission have been applied directly to the current tests. This approach has helped NASA streamline the Artemis III planning process and ensure that the Starship Human Landing System is prepared for astronaut transport to the lunar surface.
Exploring Aerodynamic Forces
The wind tunnel testing took place in two distinct facilities at NASA Ames. The transonic wind tunnel simulated airflow at speeds up to Mach 1.4, while the supersonic tunnel pushed the scale model to speeds as high as Mach 2.5. These conditions are designed to replicate the intense forces that the rocket will face during its high-speed re-entry. The data collected helps engineers understand how the rocket will perform under both steady and unsteady air conditions.
Jayanta Panda, an expert in unsteady aerodynamics at NASA Ames, explained the difference between the two types of forces. Steady forces are predictable and occur as air flows smoothly over the rocket’s surface during ascent. In contrast, unsteady forces are more erratic, causing sudden buffeting or vibrations. Understanding these forces is essential for designing the rocket’s control systems and ensuring the safety of future crewed missions.
Wind Tunnel Testing Details
The Artemis program aims to send humans back to the Moon by 2027 with Artemis III and to set the stage for crewed missions to Mars. NASA is collaborating with SpaceX to create a reusable lunar lander capable of transporting astronauts to the Moon’s surface and back into lunar orbit. Precise data from these wind tunnel tests is crucial for refining the design of the Starship Human Landing System (HLS) and making it safe and effective for future use.
The testing at NASA Ames is not just focused on the immediate mission. It is also laying a foundation for future deep-space exploration. By leveraging decades of wind tunnel testing experience from past projects, such as the space shuttle, SLS, and Orion, NASA is adapting and optimizing Starship for the challenges of lunar missions and beyond. These efforts will support Artemis III and help prepare for another crewed lunar mission in 2028.
Artemis Program and Future Exploration
As NASA works with SpaceX to develop the Starship Human Landing System, the partnership is a testament to how public and private collaboration can drive progress in space exploration. The Artemis program not only aims to return humans to the Moon but also to establish a long-term presence there. These missions will provide new opportunities for scientific discovery and economic development, paving the way for the next great leap in human space exploration.
Through Artemis, NASA is building a foundation for future deep-space exploration, using each mission to learn, adapt, and improve. The wind tunnel testing at Ames is a critical step in ensuring the safety and reliability of Starship as it prepares to take astronauts to the Moon and beyond. As engineers and scientists continue to analyze the data, the success of Artemis III will depend on the lessons learned today to support the missions of tomorrow.
The Artemis program is more than just a series of lunar missions—it is a vision for the future. By returning humans to the Moon and developing the infrastructure needed for sustained exploration, NASA is creating the conditions for the first crewed missions to Mars. The collaboration with SpaceX and the data from the wind tunnel tests are helping shape this future, ensuring that each step taken on the Moon brings the dream of Mars one step closer to reality.