Trump Teams Up with Musk to Witness Starship Test Launch

During the sixth test launch of a SpaceX Starship spacecraft, President-elect Donald Trump joined Elon Musk in Brownsville, Texas, to witness the launch.

An operation in which the rocket booster is trapped in a landing dock on its return to Earth was attempted by SpaceX once again. This was accomplished for the very first time on the fifth test flight of Starship. However, SpaceX decided to abandon the mission because of a problem, and the booster did not last more than a few minutes in the air before it crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.

The decision to appoint Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) was made by President Trump earlier this month.

In his statement, Trump stated that the two individuals would serve in an advising position, and that the Doge would not be an official government department.

In case you are wondering,

What Is SpaceX Starship?

SpaceX Starship is a next-generation spacecraft designed to carry both humans and cargo to places like the Moon and Mars. It’s made up of two parts: the Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy booster. The goal of Starship is to make space travel more affordable and efficient, with big missions like NASA’s Artemis program aiming to land astronauts on the Moon in the near future.

How Big Is SpaceX Starship?

When fully assembled with its Super Heavy booster, SpaceX Starship reaches an impressive height of about 397 feet (121 meters). It has a diameter of around 30 feet (9 meters). This makes Starship the tallest rocket ever built, designed to carry massive payloads into space, whether it’s for launching satellites or ferrying people to the Moon or Mars.

How Tall Is SpaceX Starship?

Without the Super Heavy booster, Starship stands at about 165 feet (50 meters) tall. But when the booster is added for a launch, the total height is around 397 feet (121 meters). That’s a huge size difference, but it shows just how powerful and capable this vehicle is for carrying out major space exploration missions.

Where To Watch SpaceX Starship Launch?

You can catch a SpaceX Starship launch live on SpaceX’s official website or on their social media pages like X (formerly Twitter). Many science and space news websites also provide live coverage and updates. Typically, the live stream starts about 30 minutes before the scheduled liftoff.

When Will SpaceX Launch Starship Again?

The last SpaceX Starship launch was on November 18, 2024. That was the sixth test flight, focusing on further refining the spacecraft’s capabilities and performance. The next one has not been announced yet.

How To Watch SpaceX Starship Launch?

To watch a Starship launch, head to SpaceX’s website or social media pages where they’ll stream the event live. You can also check out popular space-related websites that provide live coverage and play-by-play commentary during the launch. Be sure to log in about 30 minutes before launch for pre-launch updates.

What Happened To SpaceX Starship?

SpaceX has had a few test flights of Starship, and while some have been successful, others haven’t gone as planned. For example, one of the recent flights launched well but didn’t manage to catch the Super Heavy booster as it returned to Earth. Each test flight, whether it’s a success or a setback, gives SpaceX valuable data to improve the spacecraft for future missions.