Elon Musk envisions the SpaceX Starship will carry 1000 passengers for point to point travel. The spaceship will bring people so far out, that by the time the craft descends back to Earth the planet will have turned beneath it, orienting the landing to the intended destination.
The total flight time will be about 20 minutes. It will feel like you got on a long roller coaster ride but when you exit you’re on another continent! There would be no bathrooms and you would not be permitted to get out of your seat as it would be far too dangerous, and difficult. The flights are so short there would be no need to get up anyway.
The craft will be fully reusable allowing for ticket prices to be between 500-2000 dollars per person. Such a price range is equal to your average business class or even international economy airline tickets. It would be in the competitive range of an 8-24 hour flight but would take only 20 minutes instead.
~1000, as all seats would be “coach” & no toilets, pilot area or food galley needed. Most flights would only be 15 to 20 mins. It’s basically an ICBM traveling at Mach 25 that lands.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 26, 2019
That would be unwise. Probably needs a restraint mechanism like Disney’s Space Mountain roller coaster. Would feel similar to Space Mountain in a lot of ways, but you’d exit on another continent.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 26, 2019
Out of the 4.1 billion flights currently scheduled, over 1 billion of them are longer flights. Furthermore, flights are only increasing at a rate of about 10% each year meaning there is definitely room for a supersonic flight option like the SpaceX Starship! If SpaceX can reach improved safety then they would be able to replace any flights with over 8 hour flying time for coach, business, first-class, and private jet. Who would fly for 20 hours when they can just fly for 20 minutes to get to where they’re going?!
