Elon Musk says SpaceX to fly bigger, fully reusable starship in 2026

SpaceX suffered from two explosive test flights and other development challenges with Starship tests this year, but had a successful test last month.

Following the success of its latest Starship test, SpaceX is readying a bigger version of the rocket that should be fully reusable next year, Elon Musk said.

The newer Starship will be capable of carrying more than 100 tons of payload to orbit, the SpaceX chief executive officer said, speaking via video at an All-In Podcast conference on Tuesday.

The current iteration of Starship, which the company calls Version 2, has capacity of about 35 tons and SpaceX has been able to recover just its booster. Musk has long promised full reusability and much larger payload capacity.

SpaceX suffered from two explosive test flights and other development challenges with Starship tests this year, but had a successful test last month.

Now the company is focusing on the shift to the bigger rocket, Musk said.

“There’s only one booster and ship left that’s in the Version 2 design, and thereafter it’s Version 3, which is a gigantic upgrade,” he said.

“Unless we have some very major setbacks, SpaceX will demonstrate full reusability next year, catching both the booster and the ship and being able to deliver over 100 tons to a useful orbit,” he added.

Musk also answered questions about SpaceX’s plans to use Starlink satellites to provide service to users’ mobile phones and other devices, a business that got a boost on Monday with the company’s agreement to purchase wireless spectrum from EchoStar Corp. for about $17 billion.

Read More: Musk’s SpaceX to Buy EchoStar Spectrum for $17 Billion

SpaceX needs to work with handset makers to use the new frequencies, Musk said, adding that the phones should be ready in around two years. At the same time, SpaceX must also build new satellites for the spectrum, he said.

“We’re not going to put the other carriers out of business,” he said of market leaders like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. “They’re still going to be around, because they own a lot of spectrum.”

The goal for SpaceX, he said, is to offer users “a comprehensive solution for high bandwidth at home and for high bandwidth direct to cell.”