SpaceX's Starship spacecraft was launched at 4 a.m. this morning, November 20 (4 p.m. November 19, US time) from the company's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, according to Reuters. President-elect Donald Trump witnessed the test launch with billionaire Elon Musk, who is an influential adviser to the incoming administration.
Billionaire Elon Musk and President-elect Trump witnessed the Starship test launch in Texas on November 19.
Mr Trump's attendance shows his deepening relationship with Mr Musk, who is expected to win more concessions from the incoming administration for his companies and secure favorable government treatment.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has been a prominent supporter of Mr Trump's presidential campaign, appearing with him at rallies and contributing at least $119 million in political support.
President-elect Trump watches the spacecraft launch
On November 13, Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Musk to head an agency to combat waste and bureaucracy. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial rocket launch regulations were accused by the US president of hindering SpaceX's progress. However, according to Reuters, the FAA's approval of SpaceX's fifth and sixth launches in just over a month was the fastest decision the company has ever made.
The Starship spacecraft is attached to a Super Heavy rocket and has a total height of about 122 meters. The spacecraft is designed to take astronauts to the moon and Mars.
The rocket and spacecraft are 122 meters long in total.
After launch, the Super Heavy rocket booster unexpectedly landed in the Gulf of Mexico instead of trying to return to the launch pad for reuse like the last test, suggesting a possible malfunction.
The Starship orbited the Earth and landed as planned in the Indian Ocean about 90 minutes later.
The moment Starship was launched on November 19
Last month, Starship demonstrated for the first time how it would land Super Heavy back on the launch tower and use its “robotic arm” to catch the rocket in a spectacular way. It was considered a major milestone in the rocket’s reusable design.
One of the main goals of the launch, Musk said, was to restart Starship’s engines in flight, which are key to the spacecraft’s movement in space. “There are thousands of small design changes that are being tested,” the billionaire said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-xem-spacex-cua-ti-phu-elon-musk-phong-phi-thuyen-starship-185241120070007154.htm
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