SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket in the world, will get even bigger as the company continues to target Mars missions in the future.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, told employees on April 4 that Starship will eventually be as tall as 500 feet (150 meters), roughly 20% higher than the massive system aboard the Super Heavy rocket right now.
What's more, advances in reusability will have each launch cost roughly $3 million each, Musk predicted; that's less than a third of what a (much smaller) Falcon 1 rocket launch cost in 2004 when inflation is taken into account. (The figure two decades ago was $5.9 million, according to NBC, which is roughly $9.5 million in 2024 dollars.)
"These are sort of unthinkable numbers," Musk said in the Starship update, released publicly April 6, roughly one month after the third and last test flight to date. "Nobody ever thought that this was possible, but we're not breaking any physics to achieve this. So this is within the bounds, without breaking physics. We can do this."
Related: SpaceX fires up huge Super Heavy booster ahead of 4th Starship test flight (photos, video)
Musk tends to deliver Starship updates at least once a year to highlight progress the company is making toward its long-term plans of settling Mars. Indeed, the last year has seen three Starship launches, so there has been progress made recently. Musk didn't, however, address delays in launching Starship that have contributed to pushing back the launch date for the first moon landing under the NASA-led Artemis program.
SpaceX was named the vendor for the Artemis 3 landing mission that, until recently, was set for 2025. In January, NASA elected to hold the launch date another year, to 2026, due to a range of technical issues. Aside from Starship not being ready the agency wants many successful launches before approving it for astronaut flights Artemis 3 was also delayed due to slow progress on spacesuits and problems with the mission's Orion spacecraft, among other factors.
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!
However, Musk's words about Artemis, to employees, focused on Starship's future capabilities: orbiting the Earth and refilling its tanks, both of which have yet to be proven on its three test flights.
"This will ... be very important for the Artemis program for the NASA to get back to the moon," Musk said of those capabilities. He also envisions a "Moon Base Alpha" that would include ships "specialized for going to and from the moon", meaning there would be no heat shield or flaps due to the lack of atmosphere.
Related: NASA celebrates SpaceX Starship's 3rd test flight, but more work needed ahead of Artemis moon missions
Musk's 45-minute speech touched on the usual themes for his Red Planet updates, focusing on how to send a lot of cargo out there for eventual settlers. He noted that would take thousands of launches to do; for perspective, Musk said the company has completed 327 successful Falcon series launches and about 80 percent of those had reused boosters (a key factor in reducing cost.)
SpaceX is by far the most active launching entity on Earth, and Musk forecasts the company will send roughly 90 percent of orbital mass aloft this year compared to China's 6 percent (the second-largest entity.)
Starship's next and fourth spaceflight attempt, expected to take place in May, aims to have the first stage of Super Heavy land "on essentially a virtual tower" in the Gulf of Mexico, Musk said. Once the company safely gets that done, they will consider using the launching area at Starbase, in south Texas, for future landings as soon as Flight 5. (Musk pegged the chances of success on Flight 4 at 80% or 90%.)
Musk also wants to perform two splashdowns of the upper stage of Starship in a row, in a controlled fashion, before sending it to Starbase on a future flight. "We do not want to rain debris over Mexico or the U.S.," he said. "My guess is probably next year when we will be able to reuse Starship."
Overall, Musk plans for multiple Starship launches to take place this year, and suggests SpaceX will build an additional six spacecraft by the end of 2024. A new rocket factory for the company should be available in 2025, which would make production even faster.
Future versions of Starship will include a "Starship 2" to send 100 tons of payload to low-Earth orbit and the 500-foot "Starship 3" for 200 or more tons. Bigger vehicles, Musk stressed, will mean fewer (four or five) refueling missions in low Earth orbit to get a Starship ready for the journey to Mars someday.
Of these milestones, Musk said it would be "very much a success-oriented schedule." His speech did not mention the Federal Aviation Administration, which must approve each one of the launches, nor ongoing criticism of the environmental impact of Starship on the ecologically sensitive area near Starbase.
That impact may continue to grow, as Musk said it would take roughly 10 launches a day to send hundreds of vehicles to Mars every two years (when the planet is closest) to make a long-term settlement feasible. As for the number of Mars-bound people, that would be roughly a million folks, he said that matches predictions he made at least as far back as 2017. Musk also says he wants to get the settlement going "in 20 years." He said the same thing in 2011.
Original post:
SpaceX's giant Starship will be 500 feet tall for Mars missions, Elon Musk says (video) - Space.com
- NASA's Guardian Angels: Pararescuemen and the SpaceX launch - SOFREP - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX Vs Blue Origin: Who Wins The Space Race - Analytics India Magazine - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX delays launch of latest batch of Starlink satellites, with two hitchhiking spacecraft - The Verge - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX's next batch of Starlink satellites back on the launch pad - Spaceflight Now - July 14th, 2020 [July 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX launch postponed due to bad weather - Gruntstuff - July 16th, 2020 [July 16th, 2020]
- Astronauts to tackle another spacewalk on extended SpaceX mission - UPI News - July 16th, 2020 [July 16th, 2020]
- Edinburgh scientists to blast asteroid-eating bacteria into orbit on a SpaceX rocket - Edinburgh Live - July 17th, 2020 [July 17th, 2020]
- Need to Get Away? Heres Every Space Tourism Vacation You Can Book Right Now - Observer - July 18th, 2020 [July 18th, 2020]
- SpaceX stacks Starship nose section for the first time in months - Teslarati - July 21st, 2020 [July 21st, 2020]
- Science News Roundup: SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts slated for August 2 return; Mexican cave artifacts show earlier arrival of humans in... - July 24th, 2020 [July 24th, 2020]
- Tesla is like a SpaceX rocket to stock investors, but the car makers bond holders are down to earth - MarketWatch - July 24th, 2020 [July 24th, 2020]
- WATCH: SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Drone Ship 'Just Read the Instructions' Returns to Port Canaveral - SpaceCoastDaily.com - July 26th, 2020 [July 26th, 2020]
- SpaceX Astronauts Preparing To Leave ISS To Return To Earth - International Business Times - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- Elon Musk says SpaceX will try launching a full-size Starship prototype 'later this week,' and the rocket may fly 150 meters high - MSN Money - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- Watch The SpaceX Crew Dragon's Return To Earth LIVE This Sunday On 'Space Launch Live: Splashdown' - Science Fiction - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- How Much Is SpaceX Worth and How Does It Make Money? - Barron's - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX is raising up to $1 billion at $44 billion valuation - CNBC - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- How SpaceX, social media and the 'worm' helped NASA become cool again - CNBC - July 27th, 2020 [July 27th, 2020]
- SpaceX Starship factory and rocket prototypes weather Texas hurricane - Teslarati - July 29th, 2020 [July 29th, 2020]
- SpaceX, NASA watch weather for historic astronaut splashdown on Sunday - Space.com - July 30th, 2020 [July 30th, 2020]
- Taking on SpaceX, Amazon to invest $10 billion in satellite broadband plan - Economic Times - July 31st, 2020 [July 31st, 2020]
- SpaceX Crew Dragon Departs, Carrying NASA Astronauts Toward Home - The New York Times - August 2nd, 2020 [August 2nd, 2020]
- r/SpaceX, the premier SpaceX discussion community - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- Whats on TV Sunday: Connected and the SpaceX Landing - The New York Times - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- SpaceX crew returned to Earth and other space news you missed - Winston-Salem Journal - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- 'I prayed for this one - Space.com - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- You Can't Buy SpaceX Stock Right Now, but Here's How You ... - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- SpaceX Launch Schedule - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- SpaceX's toasted Crew Dragon returns home after historic NASA astronaut splashdown - Space.com - August 9th, 2020 [August 9th, 2020]
- Explained: What is SpaceXs SN5 Starship prototype that completed its first test flight? - The Indian Express - August 10th, 2020 [August 10th, 2020]
- SpaceX launches and lands prototype of its Mars rocket Starship in key short flight test - CNBC - August 10th, 2020 [August 10th, 2020]
- Virgin Galactic Updates: Whats Happening With SpaceX Rival - Forbes - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX Increases Latest Funding Round to $2 Billion - Bloomberg - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX ramping up Starship prototype tests in Texas (and looking for a resort manager) - Space.com - August 14th, 2020 [August 14th, 2020]
- SpaceX hopes to 'hop' another Starship prototype this weekend - CNET - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Three launches this weekend? SpaceX to try back-to-back launches this Sunday - Florida Today - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- SpaceX & NASA To Explore Gold-Filled Asteroid: Where Do Investors Flee If The Main Safe Haven Becomes Worthless? - The Punch - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- Elon Musks SpaceX vs Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin: Which Space Project Will Dominate the Cosmos? - Robb Report - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- SpaceX Just Launched Its 100th Rocket In A Major Milestone For The Company - Forbes - September 2nd, 2020 [September 2nd, 2020]
- What's Up in the Sky: Here's what to expect in 2021 - Akron Beacon Journal - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- SpaceX among Perry broadband project awards - pennlive.com - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- Lockheed Martin buys Aerojet Rocketdyne to better compete with Musk's SpaceX, Bezos' Blue Origin - CNBC - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- Watch every SpaceX launch from 2020 and say Auld Lang Syne with fire - CNET - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- Relive SpaceX's Starship SN8 test launch with this epic recap video - Space.com - December 28th, 2020 [December 28th, 2020]
- SpaceX cargo mission to carry water bears, baby squids to space station - UPI News - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Squid, cotton and 'water bears' among cargo headed to the International Space Station - WTSP.com - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Close Up Photo Shows the SpaceX Resilience Capsule Still Tied to the ISS - autoevolution - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Starlink snag forces users to build idiotic contraptions to access Elon Musks space internet - The Independent - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- SpaceX Rival OneWeb Plans Next-Gen Constellation Thats Better Than Starlink - Observer - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- What is that?! SpaceX's Starlink satellites explained - EarthSky - May 29th, 2021 [May 29th, 2021]
- Weekly Bytes | SpaceXs floating spaceport, Ransomware attack on Fujifilm, and more - The Hindu - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Dragon delivers solar arrays to the International Space Station - Electrek.co - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- USAF wants to deliver cargo around the world with reusable rockets - Aerospace Manufacturing - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Is the Space Force about to acquire SpaceX Starships? | TheHill - The Hill - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- It's Launch Day! Here's what you need to know for today's SpaceX launch - Florida Today - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- See the citizen astronauts of Inspiration4 learn how to fly a SpaceX Dragon (photos) - Space.com - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Everything You Need to Know About the Rise of SpaceX - Analytics Insight - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- The Pentagon wants to use private rockets like SpaceX's Starship to deliver cargo around the world - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX sends cargo to the space station, with the company on a record launch pace for 2021 - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Marc Benioff reveals investment in SpaceX, but says he'd need 'a couple of Ativans' to leave Earth - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Relativity Space raises $650 million from Fidelity and others to build 3D-printed SpaceX competitor - CNBC - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Converts Oil Rig Into a Launch Pad for Starship in ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Tests Experimental Starlink Terminal That Uses 2 ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceX Dragon docks at space station to deliver new solar ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- SpaceXs Starlink is in talks with several airlines for in-flight Wi-Fi - The Verge - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Relativity Space raises $650 million for 3D-printed SpaceX ... - June 10th, 2021 [June 10th, 2021]
- Ex-SpaceX engineers are working on portable nuclear reactors that can power over 1,000 homes - Business Insider India - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Cathie Wood Piled Up Another $994K In This Company Linked With Elon Musk's SpaceX On Friday - Benzinga - Benzinga - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Supporters and opponents of SpaceX launch site air their concerns - Ars Technica - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Its not the heat, its the humidity that grounded Boeings Starliner - Ars Technica - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Morgan Stanley says SpaceX's Starship may 'transform investor expectations' about space - CNBC - October 20th, 2021 [October 20th, 2021]
- Updates: Watch as SpaceX launches a South Korean mission to the moon from Florida - Florida Today - August 5th, 2022 [August 5th, 2022]
- SpaceX's Starlink has soared, but a course correction may be on the horizon - Fast Company - August 5th, 2022 [August 5th, 2022]
- Musk Tries a New Way Out of Twitter - Bloomberg - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Elon Musk reveals hidden meaning behind the swooping 'X' in SpaceX - TweakTown - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, world's most powerful rocket, launches after three-year hiatus - CNN - November 4th, 2022 [November 4th, 2022]
- Experts Excoriate NASA Report Claiming James Webb Wasn't Homophobic - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]
- Elon Musk Locks Twitter Employees Out Office, Then Asks Them to Meet Him on the 10th Floor - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]
- So Many People Are Using a Diabetes Drug for Weight Loss That Actual Diabetics Are Having Trouble Getting It - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]
- NASA Tells Astronauts That Tweeting Isn't As Important as Staying Alive - November 20th, 2022 [November 20th, 2022]