{"id":19516,"date":"2015-12-28T21:14:27","date_gmt":"2015-12-28T13:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/speculation-mounts-over-elon-musks-plan-for-spacexs-mars-colonial-transporter\/"},"modified":"2015-12-28T21:14:27","modified_gmt":"2015-12-28T13:14:27","slug":"speculation-mounts-over-elon-musks-plan-for-spacexs-mars-colonial-transporter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/speculation-mounts-over-elon-musks-plan-for-spacexs-mars-colonial-transporter\/","title":{"rendered":"Speculation mounts over Elon Musk\u2019s plan for SpaceX\u2019s Mars Colonial Transporter"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mars
An animation shows a lander separating from the rest of the Mars Colonial Transporter. Later concepts suggest that the entire MCT would land as a unit. (Credit: Michel Lamontagne \/ ESA via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the wake of SpaceX\u2019s successful rocket landing, some of the company\u2019s most ardent fans are guessing at the shape of the biggest thing to come: the Mars Colonial Transporter.<\/p>\n

The MCT is a crucial piece in SpaceX founder Elon Musk\u2019s grand plan to send tens of thousands of colonists to the Red Planet, potentially starting in the next decade or two. Such a venture would mark a giant leap toward establishing a second cosmic home for humanity. Musk believes that\u2019s a must if we\u2019re to guard against extinction due to pandemics, asteroid strikes or other planet-wide catastrophes.<\/p>\n

Early this year, Musk promised to unveil his architecture for Mars colonization by the end of 2015 \u2013 but in a recent GQ interview, he said the big reveal was more likely to come in early 2016. \u201cBefore we announce it, I want to make sure that we\u2019re not gonna make really big changes to it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Mars
A pencil sketch shows how the top section of the Mars Colonial Transporter might be configured. (Credit: John Gardi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite Musk\u2019s reticence, space geeks have been chewing over the elements of a potential plan for years, based on the hints that have been dropped to date. There would be two main elements: a booster capable of sending 100 tons of payload to Mars; and a habitat\/lander to carry that payload, including up to 100 passengers.<\/p>\n

The booster has been nicknamed the BFR (\u201cbig freakin\u2019 rocket, in printable terms). It would make use of a new type of methane-powered engine known as the Raptor. The MCT habitat\/lander is sometimes called the BFS (the S stands for \u201cspaceship\u201d). It would make the transit to Mars, land on the surface, and then head back to Earth after filling up from a Martian fuel depot.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, engineer and self-described tinkerer John Gardi laid out his own sketch for the Mars Colonial Transporter \u2013 and today he discussed it further in Reddit\u2019s SpaceX online forum. \u201cThis is just the MCT, Raptor booster stage is not shown,\u201d Gardi said in a tweet. \u201cThe Raptor itself would be as tall as a Saturn V, so combined is over 500ft total!\u201d<\/p>\n