BFR in 2018
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveiled this new rendering of the company's Big Falcon Rocket spacecraft ahead of the announcement Sept. 17, 2018 of the first passenger to fly a trip around the moon. The design shows many changes from the 2017 version seen in other images in this gallery. Notable differences include the three pronounced fins and a retractable forward wing.
The BFR is Big!
The BFR will be 387 feet (118 meters) tall, and it can carry payloads up to 100 metric tons all the way to the surface of Mars.
A Spacious Spaceship
The BFR's new design is more spacious inside, fitting more than 35,000 cubic feet (1,000 cubic meters) of pressurized space inside. The payload section measures 180 feet (55 meters) long. That's more than 10 times the size of the space shuttle's living quarters.
Steering the BFR
To steer, the BFR has two actuated forward fins and three in the rear. (Elon Musk also referred to these features as "wings" or "fins.")
Landing the BFR
A screenshot of a landing simulation shows how the BFR will land. The rocket is designed to be able to land anywhere in the solar system, Elon Musk said when he unveiled the new design.
Elon Musk and Yusaku Maezawa
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa, who has booked SpaceX's first private flight around the moon on a Big Falcon Rocket, meet the press during the mission's unveiling at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California on Sept. 17, 2018.
BFR and Booster: Ascent
SpaceX's new BFR design for 2018 showcases a sleek, sci-fi looking spaceship and its 1st stage booster as shown in this image unveiled by Elon Musk on Sept. 17, 2018.
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.
BFR Stage Separation
An artist's illustration of SpaceX's Big Falcon Rocket launching into space. SpaceX will launch Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa on the first private passenger flight around the moon, possibly in 2023.
BFR at the Moon
On Sept. 13, 2018, SpaceX announced it had signed the 1st private passenger for a moon trip on BFR. This image released with that announcement offered the first glimpse of BFR's design changes since the 2017 version (which fill the rest of this gallery). A significant change here is the highlight of 7 Raptor engines in use in vacuum. The 2017 design had 6 Raptor engines, with 4 for use in space and 2 for sea-level use during launches.
Flight Profile
This SpaceX graphic depicts the company's plan for the first private flight around the moon using its Big Falcon Rocket. The trip will take up to a week, SpaceX says.
BFR Spaceships on Mars
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the company’s latest Mars-colonization architecture, which centers on a rocket-spaceship combo dubbed the BFR (Big F***ing Rocket). See how it works in images. Read our full story.
This image: Artist's illustration of SpaceX "BFR" spaceships on the surface of Mars.
