SpaceX head Elon Musk unveiled the towering Starship Mk1 prototype on Saturday evening in Boca Chica, Texas. The South African billionaire also announced Starship should be ready to fly within the next few months. Mr Musk claimed the 164ft (50m) tall, 200-ton SpaceX Starship prototype will soon commence an unmanned test flight that will see it fly 12 miles (20km) up and return to Earth perpendicularly.
The SpaceX head told reporters: “It’s going to be pretty epic to see that thing take off and come back.”
The Starship prototype, displayed alongside SpaceX’s original Falcon 1 rocket on Saturday, is constructed of eye-catching stainless steel instead than the carbon composite or aluminium-based materials.
This gives the SpaceX Starship “exceptional thermal properties” and a lower cost.
Elon Musk said: “Stainless steel is by far the best design decision we have made.
READ MORE: Elon Musk tweets first look at Starship Rocket
“Steel is easy to weld, and weather resistant. Honestly, I’m in love with steel.”
Mr Musk has a history of issuing bold proclamations and claims his Starship will eventually ferry the first colonists to Mars.
A refined Starship paired with a SpaceX Super Heavy booster stage will increase the rocket’s height to 387ft (117m) and capable of carrying 220,000 pounds.
Starship could even be ready for orbital flights within six months and Elon Musk added SpaceX “could potentially see people flying next year.”
READ MORE: Elon Musk to use Tesla batteries in Starship prototype
Experts agree little about Starship is considered infeasible other than its business model, as the rocket is outlandishly large for most commercial uses:
Mr Musk did concede there is not currently much of a commercial market for the SpaceX rocket for Starship to fill.
Possible uses include launching SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellite network.
The SpaceX CEO told reporters Starship could complete a New York to Tokyo trip in 30 minutes and “It’s basically an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) that lands.
READ MORE: Satellite forced to dodge SpaceX ‘mega constellation’
“Nothing gets there faster than a ICBM. It’s just minus the nuclear bomb and add landing.”
He added: “With any development into uncharted territory, its difficult to predict these things with precision.
“But I do think things are going to move very fast.”
Elon Musk also predicted the long-term costs of Starship will come below initial estimates, saying it was “probably closer to a two or three billion than it is to 10.”
The reusable nature of the spaceship is critical, he added, saying: “In almost any motor transport—whether it’s a plane or car, a horse, or bicycle—it’s reusable.
“If you could use a car only once, very few people could afford to drive a car.
“So the critical breakthrough that’s necessary is a rapidly reusable orbital rocket.”