New Delhi:
SpaceX performed the first test of Starhopper on August 28 which is being referred as company’s monumental achievement. The prototype made a leap of 60 feet the air. It is the part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX mission to facilitate transportation facilities in order to reach Mars. Elon Musk took to Twitter to congratulate his team for the feat-
About to do next Starhopper flight test https://t.co/eeXPQPk7t6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2019
Musk posted a tweet in which he mentioned that the prototype has a core body diameter of 9 meter. In a reply to a twitter user’s query, he added that the next gen will have a core body diameter of 18m, which will be twice the size of the current prototype.
please build a 12m diameter version later :-) i really loved the first design! Thankyou for all your work! And another question: Traveltime is so long to Mars. Are u planning to use other engines in the future? Like VASIMR ?
— Frei Raum (@Freiraum77) August 28, 2019
Probably 18m for next gen system
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 28, 2019
It is to be noted that the SpaceX is developing two builds of Starship, which was announced as Big Falcon Rocket nearly two years ago.
Named as 'Starhopper', the rocket's test version has been tested with tethered short hops as well as engine test firings. Earlier, at an event in Indonesia, Jonathan Hofeller, a senior executive from SpaceX, has confirmed that they hope to deliver a satellite into orbit as part of the rocket's first flight. Without providing any specific details, Hofeller said that the SpaceX is in talks with prospective customers, all telecom companies for the maiden commercial launch.
In the meantime, SpaceX has already confirmed that the rocket with 31 methane-powered Raptor engines will also be used for flying a tourist around the Moon in 2023 and for point-to-point travel here on Earth.
