[29th Reuters]-Elon Musk, head of Space X, US space venture company, released the prototype of the next-generation spaceship "Starship", which the company is developing, to the press in Texas.
The company plans to use Starship for manned flights to the Moon and Mars. Mr. Musk said he would conduct the first orbital launch test within the next six months and expect to launch manned flight in outer space next year.
Mr. Musk, CEO of Tesla <TSLA.O>, an electric vehicle maker, said, "The important breakthrough necessary for us to have a culture of space travel is to travel around the universe. It will be possible to come and go. "
Last year, Mr. Musk appointed Yusaku Maezawa, former president of clothing online mail order ZOZO, as the first civilian passenger of Starship.