National Post (National Edition)
MUSK SHOWS OFF ‘STARSHIP’ ROCKET
It may look like something straight out of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century or Tintin’s Destination Moon but, according to Elon Musk, the photographs he posted of his latest SpaceX creation are very much real.
Musk, CEO of SpaceX and electric carmaker Tesla, revealed that assembly of the 120 foot-tall “Starship Hopper” rocket was complete.
The Tintin comparison is not an accident. In September last year, SpaceX revealed the new design of the “Big Falcon Rocket,” now simply know as “Starship,” stating, “I love the Tintin rocket design, so I kind of wanted to bias it towards that.” Musk added: “If in doubt, go with Tintin.”
True to his word, the “hopper” is a tubular, pointy-topped rocket with three tail fins. Musk hopes it will be ready for its first test flights in March or April.