First private astronauts (lots of pictures)

The first private astronauts in space will probably be on SpaceX's BFS (Big Falcon Spaceship) in 2023.  The Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, and six to eight artists he will invite to join him will make that first flight.  What he's paying hasn't been disclosed, but Musk stated that it was a substantial amount.  He also stated that the full development cost of the BFR/BFS combo would be $5 billion.  By comparison, NASA's SLS system, as yet unbuilt, is estimated to cost $1.5 to $2.5 billion per launch.  The BFR and BFS will be re-usable, meaning the per launch costs will be far below this.  Of course, the development costs will be spread over all the BFRs and BFSs built. At present 5% of the company's resources are devoted to the BFR/BFS, but once the first crewed Dragon mission to the International Space Station is completed, more resources will be moved over to the BFR/BFS.  When asked by a reporter about Boeing's vow that the first men on the moon would be in a Boeing space ship, Musk said "Bring it on.  Competition is good.  A race makes it exciting."

When asked when he was going to go to space, he hinted that he might join Maezawa and his guests.  But this was after he had emphasized just how dangerous the mission would be and complimented Maezawa on his bravery!

If this first trip to the moon is successful, SpaceX will have a ready-built rocket to start space tourism.   Maezawa is taking just 12 people.  But Musk said the BFS could carry 100.  The per person cost, even if 20% of those are crew would be affordable to lots of millionaires--all part of the funding that the Mars mission will need.  If successful, the BFR would open up space to human exploration and development.  Musk made it plain it wasn't just Mars and the Moon in SpaceX's sights but also the outer planets' moons.

 As Musk said, why don't we have a base on the moon?  We first visited 50 years ago.  The answer is obvious: we needed re-usable rockets before it could get cheap enough.   SpaceX and Musk delivered that.  But perhaps the second level of the answer is less obvious.  The launch, orbit and especially landing are under the control of very powerful computers and SpaceX's proprietary software.  Re-usability had to wait until computer chips progressed far enough to make such sophisticated controls possible.  Think Tesla's automated driving software.

You can watch the video here.  The actual live-streaming starts about 23 minutes in.

New-look BFS--one third the height of the Empire State building, or, put another way, 60% longer than the A380.  Lower two rear fins are movable to help with landing on Earth and Mars. "Tailplane" is primarily to hold one landing leg for symmetry--it will not be used on re-entry.  Musk said he wanted it to look like the rocket Tintin took to the moon!

Canards (forward fins) also help with landing.  Little man figure gives some idea of just how big the BFS is.

Note addition of aft cargo space round the engines.

BFS under construction.  Yes.  Actual.  See the tent framework?  Huge!  Not only is the BFR/BFS combo 60% longer than the Airbus A380, it's also wider  (9 metres vs 7.1 metres) [Update: this structure is in fact the mandrel which is used to make the carbon-fibre body of the BFR/BFS.  But it gives you a clear idea of the BFR's size]

BFS orbital trajectory.  Note, no in-orbit refuelling.  In-orbit  needed to actually land on the moon.

BFS/BFR launch from Earth

Booster separates from space ship before going back to land at launch site.  Launch might be from a floating platform, Elon said.

Booster (BFR) firing cold gas thrusters to turn around and head back to launch site.  Note bulges at the tips of the fins containing the landing legs.

Solar panels deployed

Destination moon (Well, Musk did mention Tintin!)

Orbiting the moon

Artist in space (prolly not doable, movements of the arm holding the bow would cause whole body to move in microgravity)

Viewer in space looking through large observation window at Earth

BFS on Mars.  The circumlunar flight's timing (2023) suggests the 2025/27 Mars timetable rather than the 2022/25 one.  But it makes sense to test the BFS in lunar orbits and landings before trying for Mars.  Just as there will be several unmanned test runs of the BFR/BFS around the moon before a manned mission, so practice flying to the moon will teach SpaceX much about the Mars mission and about surviving in space.