SpaceX Plans To Build A Space Rocket Port In The Middle Of The Ocean

Ilustrasi ( Image Credit: Via Twitter @Kendall_dirks)

JAKARTA - SpaceX plans to launch and land its next-generation Starship rocket in a floating spaceport early next year.

Later, the rocket could carry up to 100 crew members to the Moon, Mars, and even intercity flights on Earth. SpaceX's original goal was to build two floating spaceports called Deimos and Phobos, named after the moons on Mars.

In response to a fan tweet that included an image of what the spaceport would look like, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed that a development project was underway on Deimos at the moment.

According to a report quoted from Digital Trends, Tuesday, June 1, the spaceport is being built on a former oil mine that was purchased in 2020 for a total of USD 7 million from Valaris, the owner of the world's largest offshore mine.

Falcon 9's first stage has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship – SpaceX's 85th landing of an orbital class rocket booster! pic.twitter.com/LeZEBX7prY

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 26, 2021

Musk is known to have a desire to use SpaceX hardware, including rockets, spacecraft, and floating platforms for intercity travel. This was first revealed during an appearance at the International Astronautical Congress in Australia in 2017.

At the time, Tesla's CEO said the system would allow passengers to fly to most places on Earth in less than 30 minutes. Musk added that passengers would be charged the same as economy fares on conventional flights.

To realize the SpaceX Mars mission and intercity voyage, the company has conducted a series of tests, hoping to send it on its first orbital flight in the coming months.

So far, SpaceX has successfully completed three of the five test flights and landings of the Starship rocket. The plan is that the next test will be carried out in the near future with the target to land a complete Starship rocket.

If this series of tests successful, then SpaceX is confident enough to conduct a test flight of the rocket with a crew. It says SpaceX will one day transport humans to Mars, and also enable its global transportation system.