Elon Musk’s SpaceX recently conducted a test flight of its Starship rocket in the presence of President-elect Donald Trump, but the mission did not go as planned. The rocket successfully lifted off from Boca Chica, Texas. However, the Super Heavy first stage unexpectedly splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to its launchpad, indicating a malfunction.
The event marked a significant moment in the growing relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Musk, who is poised to benefit from Trump’s recent election victory, is expected to receive favorable treatment for his companies, SpaceX and Tesla. Additionally, Trump has appointed Musk as a co-leader of a government efficiency project, further solidifying their alliance.
During the test flight, the booster was supposed to return to Boca Chica and be clamped in place using a mechanism resembling “chopsticks.” However, the booster catch was called off just four minutes into the flight, and the booster ultimately landed in the water three minutes later. The Starship rocket also splashed down in the Indian Ocean, off the northern coast of Australia, after performing a belly flop maneuver.
The outcome of the test flight was not what Musk or Trump had hoped for. Musk was likely disappointed by the failure to catch the booster with Trump in attendance, as it was an opportunity to showcase efficiency and reusability. Trump, who aims to embody a “fail-fast efficiency” mentality, wanted to associate himself with Musk’s success, which did not materialize on this occasion.
Despite the setback, the test flight was significant as it marked the sixth test of the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. SpaceX and NASA plan to utilize the Starship rocket to send astronauts to the moon and eventually Mars. The test aimed to ignite an engine in space and conduct thermal protection experiments. SpaceX’s goal is to recycle the entire Starship to reduce the cost of space travel for cargo and passengers.
NASA has contracted SpaceX for over $4 billion to land astronauts on the moon using the Starship rocket in the coming years. The test flight, despite its unexpected outcome, represents a step forward in the mission to return astronauts to the moon and eventually journey to Mars.