SpaceX set to fly giant Starship rocket system
SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, is set to launch its Starship rocket, which is the most powerful rocket ever built.
The rocket is almost 120m tall and is designed to have nearly double the thrust of any rocket in history. It will be launched on Monday from Boca Chica in Texas on an uncrewed demonstration, aiming to send the upper stage of the vehicle almost one circuit around the globe.
Musk has appealed to everyone to be cautious and temper their expectations since it is not uncommon for a rocket to experience some failure on its maiden flight.
The plan is to launch the Starship rocket at 08:00 local time (13:00 GMT; 14:00 BST), and thousands of spectators are expected to try to reach coastal locations on the Gulf of Mexico to witness the event.
The rocket is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable, and Musk believes that it could transform the rocket business by allowing people and satellites to be flown into orbit multiple times a day.
Musk also believes that the Starship rocket could bring in a new era of interplanetary travel for ordinary humans.
