Video of Mr. Trump watching the launch of billionaire Musk's Starship spacecraft

(CLO) US President-elect Donald Trump watched billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX test launch the Starship spacecraft from Texas on Tuesday, but did not witness the spectacular "landing" because the rocket booster had a problem when returning to the ground.

The roughly 400-foot (122-meter) tall rocket system, designed to take astronauts to the Moon and Mars in the future, lifted off at 4 p.m. local time from SpaceX's sprawling rocket development site in Boca Chica, Texas.

The Super Heavy rocket lifted the Starship to an altitude of about 62 kilometers (39 miles) before separating. However, Super Heavy unexpectedly fell into the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to land, where it was supposed to land on the large mechanical arms attached to the tower it was launched from — something that happened in the most recent historic launch. The rocket’s last-minute diversion into the ocean suggested something was amiss.

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Video of Mr. Trump watching the launch (source: CNN)

A SpaceX livestream hosted by space blogger Everyday Astronaut showed the Super Heavy rocket booster exploding into a giant fireball over the Gulf of Mexico horizon after landing in the water.

Last month, the Super Heavy rocket carrying the Starship spacecraft demonstrated a spectacular landing for the first time in history, returning to the launch pad for reuse. Tuesday’s landing is expected to be “faster/harder,” Musk tweeted ahead of the launch.

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Elon Musk and members of the US Senate before watching the test launch of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, US on November 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters

After the Starship test on October 14, Mr. Trump was delighted. “Did you see the way this rocket landed today?” he said at a campaign rally that day.

Mr Trump’s attendance signals a deeper partnership with billionaire Musk, who has benefited greatly from Mr Trump’s election victory. The SpaceX and Tesla CEO is expected to have a huge influence in helping his companies benefit from the incoming US administration.

Donald Trump watches the launch of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, US on November 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters

On November 13, Mr. Trump appointed Musk to co-head the new Department of Efficiency in his incoming cabinet. Federal Aviation Administration regulations on commercial rocket launches have frustrated Musk, who has complained that the agency is hampering his company’s progress toward reaching Mars.

Bui Huy (according to SpaceX, Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/video-ong-trump-theo-doi-vu-phong-starship-cung-ty-phu-musk-nhung-lo-man-ha-canh-ngoan-muc-post322074.html