Elon Musk Teases Test Of His LA-Based Hyperloop, Aims To Reach Half The Speed Of Sound
HAWTHORNE (CBSLA) -- Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is planning to test his Los Angeles-based Hyperloop.
Musk said he plans to test the high-speed pod to see if it can reach half the speed of sound, or about 400 miles per hour, and then brake in three-quarters of a mile.
Upgraded SpaceX/Tesla Hyperloop pod speed test soon. Will try to reach half speed of sound (and brake) within ~1.2km.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2018
In a tweet, Musk admitted that the test is "kinda nutty" when considering how fast the pod will be traveling in such a short distance, saying at worst, the pod could "end up being shredded metal."
He ended the tweet saying that, regardless of how the test goes, it will be "exciting either way."
This is kinda nutty for such a short distance, so could easily end up being shredded metal, but exciting either way
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2018
The tech billionaire's ultimate goal is to whisk travelers in pods through tubes between cities at speeds of up to 700 miles per hour.
If the test proves successful, the tube technology would reach its fastest speed to date.