SpaceX BFR To Take Off To The Moon In The First Human-Crewed Mission Since The Apollo Program

About 50 years ago Cernan Gene became the last astronaut to put his foot on the Moon as part of the Apollo program, within the Apollo 17 mission. However, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has big plans for 2023. According to the announcement he made in September, in just five years, SpaceX BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) would take off to the Moon for a week-long trip around the Earth's natural satellite.

SpaceX BFR is obviously taking advantage of new technologies and advancements in rocket construction materials, but could SpaceX Big Falcon Rocket become the next significant piece for Moon flights? From the University of Toronto Aerospace Team, student engineer Jacob Weber comes with the answers.

"Advances in materials, manufacturing techniques and electronics have all resulted in a 'modernization' for more rockets making them more efficient in terms of production and performance," wrote Weber in his latest paperwork. "As a whole though, I would not have rockets have changed that much. You can say that the most rockets use the same multiple stages with the extra boosters on the side, "he added.

SpaceX BFR To Take Off To The Moon In The First Human-Crewed Mission Since The Apollo Program

He also highlighted that, comparatively with the Russian Soyuz rocket, whose technology practically has remained the same since the 1980s, the Western rocket builders focused on the improvement. Weber pointed out that SpaceX made a name for itself with the introduction of partially-reusable rockets which the launches one after another.

As for the SpaceX BFR, this one is made of two fully-reusable phases, the booster and the main body which are both capable of landing.

"The BFR is also probably going to be a lot better than the Apollo capsule was, with all the more modern controls and user interface elements that should be a better overall experience for the crew and, based on the artist renderings, give them a nicer view , "Said Jacob Weber. He added that the SpaceX BFR would be significantly less expensive than the Saturn V (Apollo program rockets) which, according to him, was "the single most complicated machine we've ever made with some three million individual components."

With over seven years of experience in online journalism, Vadim is passionate about everything related to science and the environment. For us, he will thus cover climate, environment, and science news, among others.