Starship Now At The Top Of SpaceX's Agenda
Last week saw an historic milestone. SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts into space. This was done using the Falcon 9 rocket that was such a success for the company.
In spite of this, Elon Musk, the controversial CEO, said the future of SpaceX is not in last week but, rather, the Starship. Whereas the Falcon 9 implemented huge cost savings by having reusable rockets, Musk wants to make the entire ship reusable.
His vision is to have the Starship operate in a manner similar to airplanes. This would, of course, drastically cut the cost of space travel.
https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106403053-1582298896127spacexstarshipconstructiontexas.jpg?v=1582299570&w=740&h=416
This is an interesting twist for a company that just broke into historic territory.
In addition to the astronaut launch, the company also sent up another 60 satellites as part of the Starlink project. This is going to provide the planet with satellite internet. Last week's launch means there are 420 satellites in space, a number that means it can provide minimal coverage area. Recent announcements stated that testing is going to take place throughout the summer with service being offered in some areas by the end of the year.
So why would Musk push his company into focusing upon the Starship project?
For one, this is how Musk operates. He is a big thinker not believing that small victories are worth much. His modus operandi is to have planet changing achievements. To reach this end, he has to take on enormous challenges.
The Starship rocket is going to be able to hold 100 people, meaning it is likely to be the vehicle to travel to Mars or the Moon. It also can carry a lot of cargo, something that is going to be required if we ever want to inhabit space to any degree.
Another interesting development is the fact that SpaceX has no success, thus far, with the Starship rocket. Perhaps this is why Musk is emailing the company to make it the top focus. Any attempts at launch have failed up to this point. The last one made for a wonderful 4th of July spectacle as it blew up.
Nevertheless, Musk is never one to be deterred. He keep pushing forward no matter what the rest of the world thinks. This is likely one of his strongest attributes. It is also what tends to get him in trouble quite frequently.
It does appear Musk spent the 2010s laying the foundation for electric vehicles. Now, in the 2020s, it is evident his focus is to do the same with space. SpaceX is well positioned to be one of the leading space companies by the time the next decade rolls around.
And to get there, in Musk's opinion, the Starship has to be the main priority for the company.
Boca Chica, Texas just got a lot more important.
If you found this article informative, please give an upvote and rehive.
gif by @doze
Posted Using LeoFinance
