SpaceX video: Elon Musk's Starship tweet hints at imminent launch of Mars-bound rocket
SPACEX's first Starship test flight is thought to be imminent after CEO Elon Musk tweeted out footage of a nearly completed rocket nosecone.
SpaceX: Elon Musk reveals rocket nosecone production
The Mars-bound SpaceX Starship could be set for an imminent and historic launch, according to its CEO Elon Musk. The tech entrepreneur teased footage from his South Texas Starship factory where he posted a glimpse of a nearly-completed rocket nosecone. This suggested that the first upgraded Starship prototype’s flight launch was imminent.
According to the experts, workers at the SpaceX factory have been working “around the clock” for a month to build the first full-scale Starship prototype.
There is speculation that SpaceX plans to install its three Raptor engines and carry out a "live static fire test" as soon as early March.
It would be the Starship's first suborbital test flight, in what Mr Musk has termed the "next generation" of space flight.
The test flight could reach as far as 12.4 miles (20 km) in altitude if the March test goes ahead.
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However, setbacks are likely due to the unfavourable weather forecast in south Texas.
The Starship is meant to eventually carry loads of humans to Mars as part of Elon Musk's mission to build "a metropolis" on the planet and create a "multi-planetary species."
Over the next decade, Mr Musk even proposed building 1,000 Starships, and flying each one three times a day for at least ten years.
According to this plan, the Starship will first move 100 megatons of cargo to low Earth orbit, and then relaunch all 1,000 ships loaded with 100,000 passengers.
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When in orbit, the passenger ships will pick up the cargo, and move en masse to colonize Mars.
Elon Musk has also recently revealed that his Starship will give passengers a great view of the Earth and the universe.
He tweeted in the comments of his nosecone video that the spacecraft will have a huge scenic window looking out into space.
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He said: "There will be a common area in the forward section with a big window like this.
"It will be a lot heavier than steel, but not dangerous. Consider astronauts on the moon with a very thin windowed helmet. They were fine."
Earlier this week, SpaceX received permission to build its Mars spaceship and rocket at a factory in the Port of Los Angeles.
The LA Board of Harbor Commissioners voted Thursday to approve a new permit for Elon Musk-led SpaceX with its Mars Starship system the likely candidate for development.