SpaceX Announces Starship Torch Lighter

SpaceX, the space and rocket company founded by Elon Musk, has announced a lighter that is made to look like its Starship rocket, which is expected to have its first orbital flight in the coming days.

Coinciding with that, the company has announced a butane lighter that is a 1:200 scale replica of the giant rocket. The lighter appears to have a single butane torch mechanism that fires from the bottom, similar to how a rocket would work. To refill the lighter, the top of the rocket’s cone is removed. SpaceX’s store indicates that it will have an adjustable flame and a safety lock.

Pricing is set at $175, and the lighters are expected to ship in Q3. The lighters appear to only be sold through SpaceX’s store.

The SpaceX Starship is 390 feet tall, the largest and most powerful super heavy-lift launch vehicle, a category that includes the Saturn V and SpaceX’s own Falcon Heavy. Notably, the Starship is designed as a reusable rocket.

This lighter is the latest in a long list of products released by Musk’s companies that fall outside of their core focus, though typically have some tie-in to their respective business. For example, Tesla currently sells belt buckles, branding irons and glassware, which have loose tie-ins to its vehicles. This is also not the first time Musk has created a lighter. In 2018, the Boring Co.—a tunnel company founded by Musk—sold 20,000 flamethrowers.

Images via SpaceX