Elon Musk gives Big Falcon Rocket a new name: Starship

SpaceX previously released this dramatic illustration of its BFR spacecraft with the moon.

SpaceX

Elon Musk has had a change of mind about what he wants to call the spaceship that the first SpaceX private moon passenger will travel in.

Up to now, it's been known as the Big Falcon Rocket, or BFR. Late Monday, the SpaceX founder announced his decision to give it a more classic name: Starship.

In a later tweet, Musk explained that Starship would be the name of the spaceship itself. The rocket booster that will help it "escape Earth's deep gravity well" will be called Super Heavy.

Technically, two parts: Starship is the spaceship/upper stage & Super Heavy is the rocket booster needed to escape Earth’s deep gravity well (not needed for other planets or moons)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2018

Besides getting ready to send the BFR -- er, Starship -- to the moon in 2023, SpaceX has a thriving business shipping supplies to the International Space Station. Those jaunts use the company's Falcon rockets, variations on which have been flying into space since 2008, and its Dragon spacecraft. Meanwhile, it's working toward putting thousands of satellites into Earth orbit in order to provide global broadband coverage.

Many Musk fans asked for more details about the Starship. Some also wondered what prompted him to change the name of the spaceship, while others disagreed with his choice of the new name.

As no one else has asked, is this named after 1980's band Starship and will the first mission be called Knee Deep In The Hoopla. Please say yes.
— 🙏 jackson ryan (@dctrjack) November 20, 2018

Why bro why starship BFR is way better
— Jason Kulmus (@KulmusJason) November 20, 2018

No. It will forever be known as the BFR.
— Sean C. (@JustSeanC) November 20, 2018

I liked BFR more,"starship" is cheesy
— عمو دلاور (@scvaliant) November 20, 2018

The change in name may have been sparked by Musk's ambitions for the spaceship. As he revealed to someone who took issue with the new name, even if the vessel doesn't travel to the stars immediately, someday a version of it will:

One person observed that it's not the first time the spaceship has been given a new name.