Elon Musk, the billionaire tech innovator, is setting his sights on transforming international travel. His company, SpaceX, is advancing plans to launch an “Earth to Earth” space travel system, enabling intercontinental flights that launch like a rocket and land just minutes later in cities across the globe.
Musk believes that with Donald Trump’s recent re-election, his dream of ferrying passengers across the world in under an hour aboard the Starship rocket is “now possible.” Musk initially conceptualized this vision nearly a decade ago, and SpaceX is now closer than ever to realizing it. The stainless-steel rocket, known as Starship, stands 395 feet tall and has the potential to redefine travel times between major cities. Imagine traveling from London to New York in just 30 minutes or from New York to Shanghai in an astonishing 39 minutes. Rather than venturing into deep space, Starship would move along Earth’s orbit, turning what would traditionally be a long-haul flight into a swift journey where passengers arrive in a “blink-and-you’re-there” experience.
However, this journey would be no typical plane ride. Passengers would experience intense G-forces both during takeoff and landing and would remain seated with belts fastened throughout the entire low-gravity flight. SpaceX has even recommended that travelers recline and “clench” as the rocket exits and re-enters Earth’s atmosphere to manage the powerful forces of this rapid journey.
The ambitious proposal has sparked interest and speculation, especially on the social media platform X. One user suggested that with Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in place, regulatory approval for SpaceX’s project might proceed at a rapid pace. Musk responded to this idea by stating, “This is now possible,” implying that greenlighting for such futuristic travel may indeed be nearer than many initially believed.
SpaceX has also released a promotional video depicting the experience it envisions for passengers. In the video, travelers board a boat from New York City that ferries them to an offshore Starship launchpad. From there, the rocket launches them on a non-stop journey to Shanghai, reaching their destination in under 40 minutes. While the on-screen depiction portrays a smooth and efficient journey, SpaceX has indicated that these high-speed flights may require some adjustments from passengers. For instance, Musk has hinted that some common travel conveniences—such as access to restrooms or food service—might not be available. Instead, he suggests that passengers might need to take “tactical” restroom breaks while still on the boat before boarding the rocket for the actual trip.
Musk’s original intention for Starship was to make humanity a multi-planetary species, specifically by facilitating journeys to Mars. However, the potential application of Starship for Earth-based travel could revolutionize the way people think about global travel. By cutting down travel times from hours to mere minutes, Musk’s venture could set a new standard for international flights and make the concept of “minutes-to-anywhere” flights a new normal.
The project, although still subject to regulatory approval and considerable testing, offers a glimpse into a future where rocketing across the world in under an hour may be possible. With the support of recent advancements and Musk’s unrelenting push, SpaceX’s Starship could indeed redefine global travel on Earth while maintaining its original ambition to carry humans to Mars.
