SpaceX to Attempt Crewed Spacecraft Earth Orbit Flight Early Next Year

Elon Musk Tesla CEO (Photo by AP Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Elon Musk, the founder of the private space company SpaceX, revealed that the manned spacecraft "Starship" currently under development could undertake its first Earth orbit test flight in January next year.

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 17th (local time), Musk stated during a video conference with members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) broadcast on YouTube, "We plan to conduct several tests this December, and hopefully, we can perform the test launch in January next year."

After the first orbital test flight, Musk added that they plan to conduct about 10 additional test launches by the end of the same year.

The first test flight of Starship is expected to launch from the "Starbase" in Boca Chica, southern Texas, orbit the Earth once, and then return.

However, the probability of the rocket launch vehicle successfully achieving orbital flight on its first attempt is not high. Musk also explained, "There could be various risk factors during the initial launch," and "While the chances of success are not high, there will be significant progress."

SpaceX's "Starship Launch System" (SLS) consists of two parts: the Starship spacecraft and the first-stage booster called "Super Heavy." This launch vehicle, made of stainless steel, measures 120 meters in height and 9 meters in width when combined. Musk described Starship as "the largest rocket ever built."

Starship is also contracted by NASA for manned lunar exploration missions in 2025. It is known that Starship can carry up to about 100 passengers. Musk has previously revealed plans to use Starship to relocate one million people to Mars by 2050.