Donald Trump traveled to Brownsville, Texas, to join Elon Musk for the launch of SpaceX’s Starship, marking a new chapter in their growing partnership.
Mission Control Mission Control to #Starbase President @realDonaldTrump have arrived greeting Starships @elonmusk @DOGE @SpaceX Historic moment pic.twitter.com/PGh75KlvTM
— Laureen Trent (@laureentrent) November 19, 2024
At 5 p.m. ET, Starship, the largest rocket ever built at 400 feet tall, launched for its sixth test flight. The rocket successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean about an hour later.
In the lead-up to the election, Trump frequently praised Musk’s accomplishments in space. He particularly celebrated SpaceX’s success in October when the rocket’s booster was captured by giant mechanical “chopsticks” after landing.
SpaceX chose not to repeat the “chopstick” maneuver this time. Instead, the “Super Heavy” booster made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, near Musk’s “Starbase.” However, the flight achieved key milestones, including the first ignition of Starship’s “Raptor” engine in space, bringing the rocket closer to stable orbit. It also carried a banana as its first physical payload, referencing an internet meme.
Starship, as tall as a 30-story building, is designed to carry 100 people on interplanetary missions in the future. It will also help with satellite delivery, Moon base development, and point-to-point travel on Earth, according to SpaceX.
Trump was seen engaging with Musk before and during the test flight. Musk, who has spent an estimated $200 million supporting Trump’s re-election effort, has been a constant presence at Trump’s side, traveling with him across the country.
After the launch, Trump addressed the media about his nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general, despite controversy over allegations against Gaetz. When asked if he was reconsidering his pick, Trump firmly replied, “No.” Gaetz has denied the allegations.
