According to US media reports, on the 10th local time, at the space base of the US Space Exploration Technology Company (SpaceX) in Texas, founder Musk stood next to the 390-foot (119-meter) high rocket and introduced the major progress of the "Starship". He said the first orbital flight could be in the next month or two.
Infographic: Musk, founder of Space Exploration Technologies.
SpaceX is reportedly awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before advancing the next phase of Starship, which is into orbit. Musk said he hopes to be approved in March, when the rocket should also be ready to fly.
Musk said the launch of Starship could be transferred to the FAA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida if it asks for more information about potential environmental impacts or litigation. This will delay the first orbital launch by more than half a year.
He estimates that the launch of a Starship could end up costing less than $10 million. In addition, Starship already has a private customer, a Japanese entrepreneur. Musk hinted, though, that there are others interested in buying travel and said there will be an announcement in the future.
According to the ABC, Musk wants to deploy a fleet of "Starships" that could build a city on Mars, transport equipment and people.
For now, though, the initial flight will be to carry the Starlink satellite into orbit. Before manned spaceflight, he said, "there may be some obstacles, but we hope to solve those problems through satellite missions and test missions."
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