Photo credit: SpaceX
Elon Musk held a press event yesterday at SpaceX’s South Texas test site to provide an update on Starship. The CEO stood beneath a towering Starship Mk1 prototype currently being used to develop a massive reusable launch system. This new version, along with its Super Heavy booster, is capable of transporting up to 100 people to the moon, Mars, and beyond. The rocket stands 387-feet-tall and is completely reusable, with quick turnaround times.
It’s expected to launch for the first time in around 1-2 months and reach a maximum altitude of 65,000 feet before landing back on Earth. Musk believes reusable spacecraft is essential for the viability for space travel and to eventually extend consciousness beyond our planet. He’s aiming to reach orbit in less than six months, which is an important test, especially since Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will take this rocket on a trip around the moon as early as 2023. Ensuring that all tests run smoothly and at a quicker than normal pace is the fastest path to a self-sustaining city on Mars, according to the CEO.
