paceX tested its massive Starship rocket for the sixth time on Tuesday as President-elect Donald Trump watched alongside company CEO Elon Musk.
Starship launched from SpaceX’s headquarters, Starbase, in Boca Chica, Texas, at 5 p.m. ET. Musk, the world’s richest man, watched the test flight with Trump — whom Musk helped to elect by investing hefty sums of his own money into the Trump reelection effort and running significant portions of the campaign’s ground operation in swing states.
Trump announced his visit to SpaceX’s Texas headquarters in a post on X, Musk’s social media platform.
“I’m heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground. Good luck to @ElonMusk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project!” Trump wrote.
The latest rocket test featured an updated propulsion system to the Super Heavy booster used to launch the rocket. The updates were supposed to ease the booster into the arms of “Mechazilla,” the launch pad that can double as a landing pad – provided the conditions are right. Weather conditions were not optimal on Tuesday, and SpaceX chose to have the booster fall offshore rather than attempt to catch it.