SpaceX reveals Starship Timeline
~ 20m up and sideways for first flight. Mk1 Starship hopefully 20km up in a few months.
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2019
It happens.
<p class = "canvas-textile textile Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) ̵[ads1]1; sm Mt em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Finally, SpaceX will begin test flights of Starhopper – an abbreviated version of Elon Musks long-awaited Starship interplanetary space ship – this week. " data-response time = "14"> Finally, SpaceX will begin test flights from Starhopper – an abbreviated version of Elon Musk's long-awaited Roman interplanetary spacecraft – this week.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "In fact, according to a tweet from SpaceX CEO over the weekend , Starhopper's first "untethered" (ie free-flying ) attempt to start and swing at a height of 20 meters in the air before landing could occur as early as July 16. " data-response time = "15"> In fact, according to a tweet from the SpaceX CEO this weekend, Starhopper is his first "untethered" (ie, free-flowing) attempt to start and swing at a height of 20 meters in the air before landing can occur as early as July 16th.
And that's just the beginning.
Image source: SpaceX.
<h2 class = "canvas-atom canvas text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – Baby steps to space " data-reactid = "29"> Baby steps to space [19659008] Standing 80 feet tall and carrying a polished stainless steel shell measuring 30 feet in diameter, Starhopper looks like nothing as much as a huge, shiny silver ball on the launch plate – aimed at the stars. [19659010] The flight tests for Starhopper, under construction in the form of two separate prototypes in two separate locations, began safely again in April. It was the date of Starhopper's first "static" testing of its $ 2 million Raptor engines, performed with Starhopper firmly sealed to the ground and unable to fly away. But hinting at an ambitious launch plan, Musk now says he hopes to get Starhopper as much as 20 miles in the sky as early as "a few months" from now.
Assuming the week's test goes well, there are several hops likely "later this year," says SpaceX VP for commercial sales Jonathan Hofeller. It is still possible that Starhopper will "get orbital … this year."
Then comes the test of a "full stack" – a full-launch prototype of Starship – by 2020, followed by commercial operations as early as 2021. Hofeller recently confirmed that SpaceX is in talks with three separate telecommunications companies to see who might want become Starships introductory customer at an orbital start in 2021.
<h2 class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) [0459029] What Starhopper means to investors " data-reactid = "34"> What Starhopper means to investors
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Designed with the capacity of to carry 100 colonists to Mars offers the Starship Space Vehicle that Starhopper represents, the best hope humanity has to colonize the red planet – or just just visit it. For SpaceX investors, though (and you may be one and not even know it ), Starship has bigger – s river existential – implications. "data-reactid =" 35 "> Designed with the capacity to carry 100 colonists to Mars, the Starship Space Vehicle that Starhopper represents, undoubtedly offers the best hope humanity has to colonize the red planet – or even just visit it. For SpaceX investors, though (and you may be one and don't even know it), Starship has bigger – even existential – implications.
<p class = "canvas-text text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" While it is best known for its launch of satellites in orbit, you see that SpaceX does not actually make much profit from launching satellites In fact, while data from S & P Global Market Intelligence confirms that the company generates over $ 1 billion in annual sales, consider bankers to consider a recent SpaceX debt bid, that the company is currently generating no GAAP profits from the launch business. "data-reactid =" 36 "> While it is best known for their business launching satellites in orbit, you see that SpaceX doesn't actually make much profit from launching satellites, in fact, while data from S & P Global Market Intelligence confirms that the company is generating Over $ 1 billion in annual sales, consider bankers to consider a recent SpaceX debt bid, that the company currently does not generate any GAAP profits from the launch business.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" To rectify this, the company hopes to earn the profit will have to fund a mission to Mars by developing a worldwide system with 12,000 satellites offering broadband internet . Starship, with its massive internal load capacity and insanely low payload per kilo in circulation, gives the company the best chance of getting the system running before anyone else can beat it. "data-reactid =" 37 "> To rectify this, the company hopes to earn the profits it needs to fund a mission to Mars by developing a worldwide system of 12,000 satellites offering broadband internet, Starship, with its massive internal load capacity. and a low low payload per kilo in circulation, gives the company its best opportunity to make the system run before anyone else can turn it on.
<h2 class = "canvas-atom-text-text Mb (1.0em ) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" What Starhopper means for other investors ] "data-response time =" 38 " > What Starhopper means to other investors
And the possibilities may not even end there. In what I think may be the first mention of the idea, Hofeller in June revealed that SpaceX considers a brand new mission for Starship when it is operational.
<p class = "canvas-textile-textile Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "But here's the thing: Given the large size on the Starship's cargo ship, which will be empty after it gives a payload to space, It seems to be a waste to bring the big oil ship back to earth still empty. So what about Starship could also be used to transport malfunctioning satellites from orbit back to earth for repair? "data-reactid =" 45 "> But here's the case: Given the large size of the Starship's ship dock, which will be empty after giving a payload to space, it seems to be a waste of bringing the big oil ship back to Earth is still empty, so what about Starship could also be used to transport malfunctioning satellites from orbit to earth for repair?
"You can potentially resume a satellite and bring down there to the ground, says Hofeller. There, the satellite could be repaired on hand by those who built it and then returned to orbit in another Starship. Given this, SpaceX would probably short circuit plans by Lockheed Martin, Northrop and Maxar to repair satellites in space – but it would create a whole new revenue stream for SpaceX.
<h2 class = "canvas- atomic text-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Long story short "data response time =" 47 "> Long story short
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Whether you are a fan of Spacestart, a telecom investor, or just a customer seeking inexpensive, reliable internet service not provided by Comcast SpaceX's Starhopper test Tuesday should be one to see. "data-reactid =" 48 "> Whether you are a fan of space launch, a telecom investor, or just a customer seeking a cheap and reliable internet service, not provided by Comcast SpaceX's Starhopper test should be on Tuesday be a see.
<p class = "canvas-text-text-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " More from Motley Fool "data-reactid =" 49 "> More from The Motley Fool
<p class =" canvas-text "-M Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text "content =" Rich Smith has no position in any of the aforementioned shares. Motley Fool recommends Maxar Technologies Ltd. Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . "data-response time =" 57 "> Rich Smith has no position in any of the listed shares. Motley Fool recommends Maxar Technologies Ltd. Motley Fool has an information policy.
