SpaceX's Starship set to reach new heights for Mars missions
What's the story
SpaceX's Starship, currently the world's largest rocket, is set to become even larger.
The company's billionaire founder, Elon Musk, has announced that the Starship will eventually reach a height of 150 meters.
This expansion plan is part of SpaceX's focus on future Mars missions, and will make the Starship about 20% taller than the existing system aboard the Super Heavy rocket.
Cost reduction
Musk predicts lower launch costs with reusability advancements
Musk has also shared his prediction that advancements in reusability could significantly reduce the cost of each launch to around $3 million.
This estimated cost is considerably less than the inflation-adjusted cost of a Falcon 1 rocket launch in 2004.
He expressed his excitement about these figures during the Starship update, stating that such costs were once thought impossible, but are now achievable without violating any laws of physics.
Annual updates
SpaceX's progress toward Mars colonization
Musk typically shares annual updates on Starship to highlight SpaceX's progress toward its ultimate goal of Mars colonization.
However, he did not discuss the delays in launching Starship, which have resulted in rescheduling NASA's Artemis program.
Despite these challenges, he emphasized untested future capabilities of Starship, such as orbiting Earth and refueling its tanks.
Future vision
Musk envisions "Moon Base Alpha" for lunar travel
Musk also shared his vision of a "Moon Base Alpha" with ships designed specifically for lunar travel.
These spacecraft would eliminate the need for heat shields or flaps due to the moon's lack of atmosphere.
He emphasized that these capabilities will be crucial for NASA's Artemis program to return to the Moon.
Despite technical complications delaying the Artemis 3 landing mission until 2026, SpaceX remains committed as the chosen vendor for this mission.
Upcoming launches
Ambitious plans for Starship include multiple launches
Musk has ambitious plans for Starship which include multiple launches this year and the construction of six more spacecraft by 2024.
A new rocket factory, expected to be operational by 2025, will help speed up production.
Future Starship models will include a "Starship 2" capable of carrying 100,000kg of payload to low-Earth orbit and a "Starship 3" that can carry 200,000kg or more.
Mars settlement
Musk's dream: A million people on Mars in two decades
Musk explained that larger vehicles will reduce the number of refueling missions in LEO preparing Starship for a Mars journey.
He estimated that about 10 launches per day would be needed to send hundreds of vehicles to Mars every two years. This strategy could make long-term settlement possible.
Musk's dream is to send around a million people to Mars, a goal he has held since at least 2017, and aims to achieve this within the next two decades.