OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
6:03 PM – Tuesday, November 19, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump attended SpaceX's latest test flight launch, surrounded by Trump supporters and his administration's incoming Cabinet members.
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At 5pm ET on Tuesday, SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on its latest test flight.
However, the company was unable to capture the booster after takeoff. Following its successful capture on a previous flight, SpaceX had hoped to fly it again, but after analyzing the flight data, decided to land on water instead.
Today's flight still represents SpaceX's fastest turnaround to date, thanks to new improvements to the booster's propulsion system aimed at a smoother, faster capture using the launch pad's “mechazilla” claws.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) State) and other MAGA officials attended the ceremony. SpaceX space base in Boca Chica, Texas.
SpaceX captured a rocket booster at its Texas launch pad during its fifth test return to Earth last month. CEO Elon Musk wrote about X: “Today, we take an important step toward making life multiplanetary.”
This time, Starship successfully crossed the world and reached the Indian Ocean, before pulling off a perfect “flip” landing that stretched the ship to its limits.
Starship's systems managed to withstand the strain of flying at supersonic speeds above the clouds, keeping the craft stable until a last-minute rocket restart flipped the craft vertically. Despite the chaotic landing, the plane landed unscathed after splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
Musk has become one of the president-elect's most ardent supporters, donating millions of dollars to a pro-Trump super PAC that supports efforts to increase turnout in the election. He has also been seen consistently at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida since Election Day.
Musk laid out specific goals for the test launch of Starship and its Super Heavy booster. He wanted to see the ship's Raptor engines restart in space, making Starship a reusable vessel for SpaceX. Tests should also look at steeper angles for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Finally, the founders wanted a “faster/more powerful” super heavy booster catch.
“Successful ocean landing of Starship! Another ship landing. If it goes well, SpaceX will try to capture the ship with a tower,” Musk posted on X.
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