SpaceX’s next generation starship rocket Elon Musk has said that it will be taller than the Great Pyramids of Giza.
SpaceX boss currently preparing for next Starship test flight happening this monthBut he’s already looking forward to future versions of the spacecraft and hopes to one day take people to Mars.
in March, spacex The first uncrewed Starship rocket was launched into orbit, although the spacecraft did not survive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
measuring 120 meters long, starship It is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, capable of generating 7.5 million kilograms of thrust – almost twice that of the world’s second most powerful rocket, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).
Responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Mr Musk wrote That starship “will likely reach ~140 m over time (currently ~120 m)”.
For comparison, the Great Pyramid of Giza – Egypt’s largest pyramid – is 137 meters high. The measurement also matches a recently broken record The world’s longest baguette,
SpaceX has already secured billion-dollar deals with NASA to use Starship to transport crew and cargo to the moon as part of the US space agency’s Artemis program, although Mr Musk’s plans for the rocket There are even bigger ambitions.
The tech billionaire has often spoken about his desire to establish a permanent human colony on Mars within his lifetime, which he hopes to achieve before 2050.
To succeed, Mr Musk plans to build a fleet of hundreds of Starship rockets, each capable of being rapidly reused after launching.
According to SpaceX, in its current size, Starship can carry about 150 tons of payload, while its interior volume provides enough space for up to 100 passengers.
Mr Musk did not provide specifics about whether additional height would be added to the Super Heavy booster or second stage craft, although the extra 20 meters would likely provide additional payload capacity, as well as the ability to travel further.
Mr Musk revealed that the most significant limitation for Starship is the heat shield covering the rocket. During the final orbital flight test, onboard cameras observed heat shields falling off the spacecraft during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
“A super reliable, lightweight, reusable heat shield is the biggest technical challenge for Starship,” he wrote on Sunday X. “It has to be able to tolerate the heat.”