How many millions did Elon Musk donate to Donald Trump's campaign? SpaceX is turning up the heat on an ambitious project that aims to bring lightning-fast, space-based travel to a city near you. Led by Elon Musk, the "Earth to Earth" program envisions SpaceX's Starship rocket as a vehicle for intercontinental passenger travel at speeds never seen before. With a capacity of up to 1,000 passengers, the goal is to make it possible to hop from New York to London in as little as 30 minutes. "The technology is now possible," Musk declared, setting a new frontier for international travel. The plan for these high-speed trips involves Starship taking passengers to low-Earth orbit, where it would essentially skim around the planet rather than venturing into deep space. With a maximum speed of 16,700 mph, this spacecraft would turn the usual 15-hour flight from New York to Shanghai into a 39-minute journey. A teaser video SpaceX released in 2017 shows passengers boarding a boat in New York's Hudson River, heading to an offshore launch pad, and boarding the sleek, stainless steel Starship for an ultra-fast trip. Ver esta publicación en Instagram Of course, this type of travel won't come without some quirks. Passengers would experience significant G-forces at takeoff and landing, requiring them to stay belted in and even follow special instructions to "clench their buttocks" as they enter and exit the atmosphere. And don't expect the usual amenities either. Musk has mentioned that there would be "no toilets, pilot area, or food galley" for these quick flights. Passengers would be advised to prepare in advance as the rides are likely to last only 15-20 minutes in some cases. Starship to redefine intercontinental travel This plan might seem straight out of science fiction, but SpaceX's recent achievements suggest it's within reach. Last month, the company reached a new milestone by successfully "catching" Starship's booster stage with massive "chopstick" arms, a significant leap in rocket reusability. Musk celebrated this feat on social media, calling it "a day for the engineering history books." As SpaceX edges closer to its lunar and Martian missions, set for 2026 and 2028, respectively, Earth-to-Earth travel seems to be a natural next step in its ambitious timeline. Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could soon be on the table, with Musk's team optimistic that a supportive regulatory landscape will help push the project forward. If successful, SpaceX's Starship could redefine not only space travel but the entire global transportation industry. As Musk envisions, Earth-to-Earth Starship flights may soon be as routine as hopping on a plane-ushering in a world where no destination feels too far.