SpaceX's Starship will be ready for 1st orbital flight in July, Elon Musk says

[Admin]

The first orbital test flight of the giant Starship vehicle could happen soon, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said.

SpaceX's Starship will be ready for 1st orbital flight in July, Elon Musk says : Read more

 

[johnandrewkarr]

Go Elon, go.

 

[Catastrophe]

Mr. Musk, do you have a self-imposed condition of landing on Mars in 2024? Do you expect to land humans on Mars in a whisker less than 2½ years?

I'll go check what odds the bookies are offering.

Cat

 

[HobartStinsonian]

I hope Starship is successful. Assuming it will be uncrewed? How well will it survive reentry with that spotty heat shield?

 

[Catastrophe]

"All About Space" (arrived today) has the story:

"I think it will be this decade", said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX.

Cat

 

[HobartStinsonian]

Do you expect to land humans on Mars in a whisker less than 2½ years?

I am a huge supporter of SpaceX, but let's consider the challenges. Navigation from Earth to Mars, life support for what, 2 years, landing site on Mars, crew exposure to sudden g-loads after long duration zero-g travel to Mars, space suits on the surface of Mars, propellant manufacturing out of the Martian atmosphere, launching off of Mars, navigation home, hyperbolic entry into earth atmosphere. How about crew entertainment, medical care, communication, mental health.
The list goes on... Solutions to all these issues ought to be demonstrated in flight and in space by SpaceX before they send people to Mars.

 

[Catastrophe]

"I think it will be this decade", said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX."

She said it, not I.

Cat

 

[johnandrewkarr]

8 - 10 years of vigorous testing sounds more likely.

 

[TEAMSWITCHER]

He said the same thing a year ago...

 

[PostalPreacher]

I guess he isn't clairvoyant. I told my wife I'd clean the gutters a year ago. Probably will tell her the same thing again.

 

[Catastrophe]

If you say so. I don't see the relevance.

 

[PostalPreacher]

Things happen. He tends to be optimistic. But the development of reusable rockets has gone much more quickly than many of his critics expected, so it balances out. Shoot for a date halfway between 'em.

 

[Catastrophe]

"Shoot for a date halfway between 'em."

So it is admitted officially that 2024 is dead duck?

Cat

 

[PostalPreacher]

Can't really assume anything I say is officially admitted. I love space, but I've got no skin in this game. I hope he gets to Mars by Labor Day.

 

[Catastrophe]

I hope he gets to Mars by Labor Day.

Which year?

Cat

 

[Catastrophe]

"I think it will be this decade", said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX."

Cat

 

[PostalPreacher]

Which year?

Cat

2021.