SpaceX appears to be on track to begin testing the SpaceX BFR and BFS starting in the first half of 2019.
SpaceX has installed a large rocket fuel tank at its Boca Chica, Texas launch facility.
Elon Musk has said – SpaceX will start BFR testing with a full-scale Ship doing short hops of a few hundred kilometers altitude and lateral distance. Those are fairly easy on the vehicle, as no heat shield is needed.
Elon also said – SpaceX wants to test the heat shield material… fly out, turn around, accelerate back real hard, and come in hot to test the heat shield.
An immense liquid oxygen (LOX) tank just arrived at @SpaceX's prospective Boca Chica, TX facility, likely to be dedicated to BFR & BFS testing. @NASASpaceflight forum user "Nomadd" caught some of the first detailed photos, as well as the tank's arrival at SpaceX land on July 11. pic.twitter.com/hr7SeA6BGw
— Eric Ralph (@13ericralph31) July 12, 2018
