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SpaceX has confirmed that it is comfortable with the idea of launching military weapons into space, provided that the objective is to defend the United States of America.
Gwynne Shotwell, 54, chief operating officer of the space exploration company, suggested that her Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) could be used in future military operations.
The spacecraft, jokingly nicknamed "Big F *** ing Rocket" by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, will have the ability to fly around the world in less than 30 minutes, according to the company.
COO Shotwell confirmed SpaceX's intentions to launch the rocket for the first time in 2020, with missions to the moon and Mars planned for 2022 and 2024 respectively.
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SpaceX would launch military weapons into space to help the United States defend itself, says operations director Gwynne Shotwell (photo of the case)
Speaking this month at the Air Force Association's annual symposium in Maryland, she answered several questions about SpaceX's military links.
The company has already launched top-secret surveillance satellites for the navy, the air force, the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA).
Asked if SpaceX would consider sending weapons into space, Shotwell, apparently surprised, said, "I have never been asked this question.
"If it's for the defense of this country, yes, I think we would."
She added that the company has "spent a lot of time building our relationship with the Air Force."
"We are now in a good position," she added.
"We are in competition. We win and lose.
Shotwell, 54, suggested that SpaceX's Big Falcon rocket (artist's print) could be used in future military operations. According to SpaceX, the spacecraft will have the ability to fly mid-way in 30 minutes.
Shotwell, who joined SpaceX in 2002, said the company's next most important challenge was its BFR spacecraft.
The powerful launcher will have the ability to lift 150 tons in space and will consist of two stages – both reusable.
Shotwell said: "I hope to do some hot testing next year with the second leg, the spacecraft, and make an orbital flight in 2020.
WHAT IS THE BFR OF SPACEX?
The BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) is SpaceX's new rocket, an extremely powerful launcher with 31 engines and capable of lifting 150 tons in space.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, nicknamed it "the rocket to great success".
The upper part of the BFR rocket has 40 cabins that can accommodate up to six passengers.
The rocket would be partially reusable and able to fly directly from Earth to Mars.
Once built, Musk thinks that the rocket could be used to travel on Earth, saying that passengers could move in less than an hour.
This image shows the main body tool of the BF (Big F *** ing Rocket) of SpaceX next to a Tesla Model 3 sedan. The tool will be used to build the fuselage of the rocket
The BFR will eventually complete all missions for SpaceX, replacing its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
Musk said in 2017 that he hoped the BFR would be able to launch and land at the last two cargo ships on Mars by 2022.
"I am confident that we can finish the ship and launch it in about five years," said Musk.
The billionaire plans a manned mission in 2024 and says other SpaceX products will be "cannibalized" to pay for it.
The huge rocket has a fuel tank that can hold 1,200 tons of liquid oxygen.
From a height of nearly 348 feet (106 meters), the BFR is a true spaceship that dominates the Falcon Heavy rocket 229 feet high.
The vessel will take off and land vertically, powered by 37 "raptor" engines, to produce a thrust of 5,400 tonnes, bringing the total weight to 4,400 tonnes.
"We would like to put a big cargo on the moon's surface by 2022. And we have our eyes fixed on the price to send people to Mars in 2024."
She admitted that these plans might seem crazy, but everything we did seemed crazy to everyone.
Illinois added that the speed of the BFR could make it a powerful weapon in future US military operations.
In the photo, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, the largest commercial rocket in history. The vehicle was launched for the first time in February. SpaceX has now suggested that he would consider launching weapons for the US military
The huge second-stage spacecraft will travel around the world in less than 30 minutes, she said.
"Imagine what we could do for the defense of the United States."
SpaceX launched 18 missions last year using its Falcon 9 rocket, more than any other company or country in Russia, which carried out 19 missions.
The company is about to complete no fewer than 24 launches by the end of the year, having sent 16 satellites into orbit so far, including the historic February Falcon Heavy flight.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the BFR could launch and land at the last two cargo ships on Mars by 2022 (archive photo)
China is trying to make 40 launches in 2018 and has already completed 24 launches.
"I was hoping to beat the Chinese this year," Shotwell said.
"It worries me that China is flying 40 times this year. And this is not for commercial customers. They have very few commercial clients.
"So, what are they doing in the world? she added.
"The fact that I do not beat them is a shame. We should all be worried about the fact that they throw 40 times.
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