Citing a New York Times article that argued that rival space companies say Musk's "SpaceX is using tactics intended to crush them," the founder of ABL SpaceSystems, an American aerospace and launch services provider And Chairman Dan Pimont said he disagrees.
Musk replied: "Thanks for the thoughtful rebuttal."
He added: "I hope rocket companies will focus on reusability," noting that SpaceX's rocket "the Falcon is about 80 percent reusable," and "Starship will eventually increase reusability to about 100 percent." Will take up to percent."
"This is the fundamental breakthrough needed for humanity to become a spacefaring civilization."
Musk said there are "a lot of difficult issues to solve" with the 400-foot-tall Starship rocket with the heavy booster.
The biggest task, Musk said, is "creating a reusable orbital return heat shield, which has never been done before."
The giant Starship vehicle aims to land astronauts on the Moon during the Artemis 3 mission in 2026.
It has had three test flights so far, and the fourth will likely take place in "about 2 weeks."
However, its reusability remains a concern, as "the shuttle's heat shield requires renovation by a large team over six months," Musk said.
He added that "it will take some effort to solve this and will require creating an entirely new supply chain for low-cost, high-volume and still high-reliable heat shield tiles, but it can be done."
Musk replied: "Thanks for the thoughtful rebuttal."
He added: "I hope rocket companies will focus on reusability," noting that SpaceX's rocket "the Falcon is about 80 percent reusable," and "Starship will eventually increase reusability to about 100 percent." Will take up to percent."
"This is the fundamental breakthrough needed for humanity to become a spacefaring civilization."
Musk said there are "a lot of difficult issues to solve" with the 400-foot-tall Starship rocket with the heavy booster.
The biggest task, Musk said, is "creating a reusable orbital return heat shield, which has never been done before."
The giant Starship vehicle aims to land astronauts on the Moon during the Artemis 3 mission in 2026.
It has had three test flights so far, and the fourth will likely take place in "about 2 weeks."
However, its reusability remains a concern, as "the shuttle's heat shield requires renovation by a large team over six months," Musk said.
He added that "it will take some effort to solve this and will require creating an entirely new supply chain for low-cost, high-volume and still high-reliable heat shield tiles, but it can be done."
