Eyes turn skyward as Musk hints of Starship’s second launch

Tech mogul Elon Musk’s private aerospace firm, SpaceX, recently shared an image of their Starship rocket alongside the entire project team, which Elon Musk himself quoted with praise. The image, originally posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), carried the caption “Made on Earth by humans.”

Great work by the Starship team! https://t.co/Tz6FOnAPQl

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 13, 2023

This isn’t the first instance of Musk’s ventures adopting the “Made on Earth by humans” motto. Earlier this year, Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, labeled its Roadster with the same tagline, departing from the conventional “Made in the USA” or “Made in China” labels.

The recent social media updates from SpaceX and Musk’s personal account strongly suggest an impending second attempt to launch the Starship. On April 17, SpaceX had initially scheduled a Starship launch but had to postpone it due to a pressurization issue.

SpaceX’s Starlink falls short of growth expectations despite revenue surge

The recent update from SpaceX and Musk hints at the possibility that the Starship is, once again, ready to take flight. Here is HehHwhat we know so far about the Starship and its objectives?

The Rocket

The Starship is envisioned as a fully reusable transportation system with the capacity to transport over 100 passengers to Mars. Elon Musk has often articulated his ambition to establish human settlements on the Red Planet, believing that self-sustainability would require a significant population.

To fulfill this vision, a robust and reusable vehicle is paramount. The Starship represents a fusion of rocket and spacecraft technology, designed to transport more than 100 individuals per trip to Mars.

One distinguishing feature is its full reusability. Unlike some other launch systems where vital components are discarded or destroyed, Starship’s principal hardware returns to Earth, ready for another mission after refurbishment. Rapid reusability is a key facet, enabling quick turnaround times after returning from space, akin to aircraft operations. This approach significantly reduces the overall mission cost.

The Aim

The Starship is designed for long-duration journeys to Mars and back, with travel times potentially spanning up to nine months each way. Musk envisions approximately 40 cabins in the payload area near the upper stage’s front. While it’s conceivable to accommodate more passengers per cabin, the standard plan is for two to three occupants, resulting in a nominal capacity of around 100 passengers per Mars flight.

Moreover, the payload bay will include communal spaces, storage facilities, a galley, and a shelter to shield occupants from solar storms, during which the Sun emits harmful charged particles into space.

The Side Quest

In addition to its Mars mission objectives, Starship is set to play a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. In April 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a $2.89 billion contract to adapt Starship into a lunar lander, marking the first time humans will land on the Moon since 1972.

What Next?

As anticipation continues to build around SpaceX’s groundbreaking Starship project, the recent social media activity strongly hints at an imminent second launch attempt. The world will undoubtedly be watching as this innovative spacecraft prepares for its next giant leap into the cosmos, marking a pivotal moment in humanity’s quest to reach for the stars.