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It comes after photos of two test models of the rocket stand side by side on the rocket company’s launch pad in Boca Chica, United States. SpaceX is currently building its 10th test version of Starship – dubbed SN10 – as part of the spacecraft’s ongoing development process.
Recently a Twitter user uploaded a photo of two Starship rockets standing next to each other and asked, “With SN10 almost complete and repairs underway on the landing pad, do you think? is that something we’ll see in the next few weeks? ? “
The user did not specify what he meant by “this”, but some observers took it to mean a simultaneous launch of two prototypes.
Mr. Musk responded with a simple “yes”. He did not specify a concrete date for the next launch of the test.
The Independent reports that the flight test would involve the upcoming SN10 rocket as well as the SN9, which has yet to fly.
At the end of last year, Starship’s last test launch, with the SN8 model, made headlines when it flew vertically at 40,000 feet before executing a horizontal flop towards Earth.
The SN8 then pulled its engines to straighten up before attempting to land.
READ: Space calendar 2021: All SpaceX launches, NASA missions, and Mars landings this year
Eventually, SpaceX hopes to use Starship for manned missions to Mars, which will be a first for humanity once achieved.
Meanwhile, the company is also preparing for a test of its Super Heavy rocket thruster, which Starship will eventually sit on to launch it into orbit.
The rocket thruster will be 240 feet tall and feature 28 Raptor engines in total.
By comparison, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket – now a workhorse for International Space Station deliveries and satellite launches – uses nine engines for its first stage of launch, although they are of a different type.
Mr Musk said last month he was “very confident” that SpaceX would launch humans to Mars by 2026, but potentially even sooner “if we’re lucky.”
The SpaceX CEO was recently criticized by human rights activists after he voiced criticism of the use of gender pronouns on Twitter.
Mr. Musk said “absolutely support trans” but added “all of those pronouns are an aesthetic nightmare.”
The Human Rights Campaign foundation called the comments “completely contrary” to a “safe, inclusive and fair work environment” and called on him to apologize, according to CNBC.
Months before, Mr. Musk tweeted “pronouns suck,” but deleted the post after being criticized by his partner.
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