Making Life Multiplanetary
Why Space Exploration Stack Exchange recommends it
Space Stack Exchange users cite it as the primary source for what SpaceX announced in 2017, such as Raptor test firing durations, landing without legs, and Earth-to-Earth rocket travel.
Recommended by 0 people across 0 different months, 2017 to 2020.
What it is
Elon Musk's keynote at the 2017 International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, updating SpaceX's 2016 plan for settling Mars. It covers the BFR vehicle, Raptor engine progress, plans for Moon bases, and point-to-point Earth transport.
Cited in 15 Wikipedia articles, including SpaceX Raptor, SpaceX reusable launch system development program, SpaceX Starship.
What people said
Cites user12102 · 2017-11 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “What's the scientific evidence of water for return trip methalox on Mars?”
EDIT: I am not asking if you think finding water is necessary for a return flight. I'm asking for the scientific evidence that there is mineable water on Mars that could be used for this purpose. Please direct your answers to the question as asked. If one is inclined to write an answer about the necessity of finding mineable water on Mars for this purpose, one can always ask it as a new and separate question, and answer there. Reviewing: Nature Geoscience Granular flows at recurring slope lineae on Mars indicate a limited role for liquid water [LINK] ibid. Supplementary data [LINK] NASA JPL Recurring Martian Streaks: Flowing Sand, Not Water? [LINK] Space.com Weird Dark Streaks on Mars May No
Cites Everyday Astronaut · 2018-05 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “Do Falcon 9/Heavy Block 5 boosters need landing legs? Or can they land back on their launch mounts?”
At 2017's International Astronautical Congress, Elon Musk claimed that SpaceX could master propulsive landing without landing legs. The assertion was that Falcon 9's "next version" could "land back on its launch mount". Guessing that by "next version" he meant the recently flown [LINK] Block 5, I wonder if Block 5s will ever fly without landing legs. Same thing with Falcon Heavy. Obviously, there are no launch mounts on the drone ships (at the moment). However there is quite some percentage of boosters returning to the landing zones, close to their launch pads. Is that vision even possible? How would a launch mount have to be modified in order to support landing rocket boosters? I wonder, be
Cites PearsonArtPhoto · 2020-01 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “As of January 2020, what is the single longest duration firing executed with a Raptor engine?”
The longest test firing of a developmental Raptor engine was 100 seconds, according to Elon's talk at IAC [this video] on September 29, 2017. The duration was limited by tanks, and would only have been superseded by one of the flight burns, which @Machavity has given a good summary [LINK] , the longest of which was under 60 seconds.
Cites Ajedi32 · 2020-08 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “Could the Space X "Starship" be modified for point to point travel on Earth?”
This is something SpaceX is actively planning. Elon Musk unveiled plans to use Starship for hypersonic passenger transport on Earth all the way back in September 2017, during his "Making Life Multiplanetary" presentation [this video] at the International Astronautical Congress. SpaceX even released a promotional video [LINK] on the concept. More recently in June 2020, Elon confirmed that Earth-to-Earth flights are still part of the plan, stating on Twitter [LINK] : There will be many test flights before commercial passengers are carried. First Earth to Earth test flights might be in 2 or 3 years. Whether or not it's viable as a profitable business is an open question subject to much debate, but E