Starship SpaceX Wiki


Dragon XL is a spacecraft in development by SpaceX for pressurized and unpressurized cargo missions to NASA's planned Lunar Gateway. It will launch on top of a Falcon Heavy rocket and is expected to be able to carry more than 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) to lunar orbit.

So far little is known about the development of the Dragon XL to the extent which SpaceX could perhaps opt to use a Starship instead of developing another spacecraft when they have clearly expressed their desire to focus on resources into the Starship program. Consequently a new Dragon program seems unlikely to align well with SpaceX's general strategy. Additionally, due to the proposed NASA budget cuts for FY26 suggest the potential cancellation of NASA's planned Lunar Gateway for which the Dragon XL was contracted to serve, further adding uncertainty to Dragon XL's future.