Elon Musk shows photo of new Starship test rocket

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has shown a photo of what the Starship will look like. The new rocket has been in development for some time under the name Big Falcon Rocket, but previously only renders of it had been made available.

Musk put the photo on his Twitter page, stating that it was a real image, not a render. Nevertheless, it is still a test version, which is only intended to go suborbital, and therefore not be shot into the universe. The final version should have a ‘thicker skin’ and a slightly differently shaped nose, according to Musk.

As part of the tests, attempts are being made to land the rocket after launch. Ultimately, it is the intention that all parts of the Starship become reusable. The first flight may take place in 2020.

Previously, SpaceX had only shown renders of the Starship, previously known as the “Big Falcon Rocket.” The Starship must be larger than the current Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy, and will be used for missions to Mars, among other things.

In November, Musk hinted that a “radical change” was imminent regarding the design of the rocket. The design stands out because a classic design has been chosen, although renders have already pointed this out.