Jesse James
Earlier this month, Elon Musk took to Twitter to provide folks with a look into the future. He’s back at it yet again, this time unveiling SpaceX’s latest spaceship, the Starship prototype. The new design is currently located in Boca Chica Village, Texas. The starship stands 164 feet tall, and the ship weighs a whopping 200 tonnes. The ship is constructed mainly from stainless steel, a material that is both cheaper and has great thermal properties.
Musk has been quoted as saying: “Stainless steel is by far the best design decision we have made.” He added, “Steel is easy to weld, and weather resistant… Honestly, I’m in love with steel.” The chrome finish of the Starship provides a retro aesthetic, almost looking like something from an ’80s sci-fi movie. As far as launch dates are concerned, SpaceX says that the Starship will carry out an unmanned test flight within one to two months. The ship is slated to fly 12 miles up into the sky and then returning to the ground completely intact. Musk claims that the Starship when paired with a Super Heavy booster stage, can carry up to 220,000 pounds and be ready for takeoff within six months.
Musk also claims that it will eventually be able to carry colonists to Mars. Check out SpaceX’s Starship prototype in the video below and head over to SpaceX to find out more immediately. In the meantime, keep it locked here to The Culture Curators for more on the modern space race coming soon.
Photos via SpaceX
