Elon Musk says SpaceX could launch Starship orbital flight test next month

[Dial H For Hero]

https://www.space.com/elon-musk-starship-orbital-launch-schedule

SpaceX's latest Starship prototype could blast off into orbit earlier than expected.

Yesterday (Oct. 21), SpaceX completed a successful static fire test with its SN20 Starship prototype. This was a major hurdle for the spacecraft ahead of its first orbital flight test, which SpaceX had previously stated would likely happen within a couple of months. But now, SpaceX founder Elon Musk has said that the launch could happen as soon as next month.

"If all goes well, Starship will be ready for its first orbital launch attempt next month, pending regulatory approval," Musk tweeted today (Oct. 22)

The launch is "pending regulatory approval," as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to grant SpaceX a launch license to launch orbital flights.

(excerpt)

Go Starship!

[DavidDvorkin]

1. No complaints yet about billionaires spending money on spaceflight?

I thought those comments would come immediately.

[Dial H For Hero]

2. Not from me, certainly. And while I find suborbital hops entertaining enough, it's SpaceX that's

doing the heavy lifting, pun intended. Starship could be a gamechanger.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. True

I was expecting others to comment sarcastically on your post.

[LunaSea]

8. This could be the beginning of the real Space Age

Expanding our reach into the inner solar system.
Going to Mars is all well and good, but I'm more interested in the lift capacity
of the cargo version. If it works as advertised, everyones future just might be getting brighter.

[gulliver]

4. "OrbitShip" not "Starship"

The name "Starship" goes against the meaning of the word "starship," a ship for interstellar travel. Typical Musk exaggeration.

[Dial H For Hero]

5. Given that this ship is designed to take passengers to Mars (and beyond), I'm willing to cut

him some slack.

[LunaSea]

7. Not to mention

The Saturn V never went to Saturn.
Not even once.....

[Irish_Dem]

6. The uber wealthy spending their money to design their own escape plans after they trash this planet.