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.