SpaceX¡¯s next big rocket -- Starship -- hasn¡¯t exactly been on the schedule for its goal to take humans to Mars. However, it looks like it will soon take a big leap early next year. That¡¯s if we¡¯re to believe Elon Musk¡¯s words.?
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Reported first by TechCrunch, Musk In a joint meeting of space research boards -- Space Studies Board and the Board on Physics and Astronomy -- revealed that SpaceX is aiming for the first Starship orbital flight to take place sometime in January next year.
Musk aims to complete the work on the pad and the launch tower at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, and with the first orbital launch in January 2022, will follow a dozen more launches throughout the year.?
Musk didn¡¯t shy away from admitting that there was a ¡°lot of risk¡± and that the launch could not be successful. However, Musk said the team would at least ¡°make a lot of progress¡±. The timing is also based on an FAA environment impact review of the aforementioned facility, and any delays in the completion of the review could push back launch dates further.
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However, according to Musk, when Starship successfully makes it to orbit, the spacecraft won¡¯t take too long to become economical. As per his vision, SpaceX could sell Starship launches for less than what Falcon 9 launches charge today, in a matter of two years -- earlier than the timeline of SpaceX¡¯s proposal for NASA¡¯s Human Landing System.?
This could translate to bringing more business to SpaceX, allowing them to create more Starships for endeavours such as space tourism or even the promised visit to Mars.
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