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SpaceX Makes History! | JP

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Elon Musk’s push to take humans to Mars may have just taken a big step forward.  SpaceX conducted the fifth flight test of Starship this morning — the most powerful rocket in the world — and made history.

Today’s test marked the very first time that Starship’s “Super Heavy” booster not only returned to the launch site after separating from Starship, but was successfully and safely caught by the “chopsticks” on the launch tower.  Watch!

I think the only thing better than watching that split screen of the observation tower next to the successful “catch” is this video from a little farther away – but you really get an impressive view of what just happened!

Prior to the successful catch, Space.com reports that SpaceX launched the 400 foot Starship for only the fifth time from the Starbase site in Texas.

The biggest and most powerful rocket ever built has taken to the skies again. And this time, it came back.

SpaceX launched its 400-foot-tall (122 meters) Starship vehicle for the fifth time ever today (Oct. 13), sending the giant rocket aloft from its Starbase site in South Texas at 8:25 am. EDT (1225 GMT).

The mission aimed to break new ground for Starship, and for spaceflight in general: SpaceX planned to return Starship’s huge first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, directly to its launch mount, catching it with the “chopstick” arms of the launch tower in a bold and unprecedented maneuver. And that’s exactly what happened. About seven minutes after liftoff, SpaceX’s Super Heavy executed what appeared to be a bull’s-eye landing, hovering near the Mechazilla launch tower as the tower captured it with its metal arms.

Here was the scene as Starship launched this morning.  Even though it’s not quite the same as watching the old Space Shuttle launches with my Dad, there is still something stirring and exciting about watching a rocket lift off from earth destined for space!

Elon was a man of few words today, but you can feel his excitement even through the screen!  I can’t help but picture him jumping up and down like he did recently on stage with President Trump.

Here’s a diagram on SpaceX’s website that shows the intended test stages of the various critical components for SpaceX’s Starship program:

It is still crazy to think that such a complicated set of operations and skill can be boiled down to such a simple drawing.  According to an article in Business Insider, the next stages of the testing phase includes monitoring the “upper stage” as it returns to earth.

The test made history as it marked the first time the spacecraft’s Super Heavy booster was returned and caught at the launch site.

The booster separated from the upper stage of the rocket just under three minutes after takeoff. It then returned to the launchpad, where it was caught by “chopsticks” on the launch tower.

The next stage of the test involves monitoring the rocket’s upper stage as it descends back into the Earth’s atmosphere.

It follows a successful fourth flight test in June, which saw both the Super Heavy booster and the upper stage of the rocket land in the ocean after launch.

The booster landed in the Gulf of Mexico after breaking away from the upper stage, while the latter eventually landed in the Indian Ocean after re-entering the atmosphere.

According to SpaceX’s website, the fifth flight test aimed to take the spacecraft “another step towards full and rapid reusability.”

Even in the realm of experimental space exploration, politics reigns.  As we have reported, the California Coastal Commission voted to reject allowing SpaceX to increase the number of launches planned from the Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Why???  In part, the political stance of Elon Musk.

There was a time that you couldn’t get away with such brazen pettiness in politics.  But that time is not now, apparently.

Here’s the full text of the post above from Ian Miles Cheong:

This is what lawfare against Elon Musk looks like, and they aren’t even hiding it.

The California Coastal Commission voted 6-4 to reject SpaceX’s proposal to increase Falcon 9 launches from 36 to 50 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, citing in part the political activities of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on X.

These petty bureaucrats are targeting Musk’s business operations due to his vocal political stances on the platform, rather than solely focusing on environmental or safety concerns.

For individuals, and even companies the size of SpaceX, the reality is and probably always will be that when you push the dial forward and make progress, or are somehow successful in a way that others are not, you become a target.

It doesn’t help that Elon has solidly planted his feet in the camp of President Trump.  As I said, even in the realm of space exploration… politics reign.

Personally, I want to see scientific exploration to continue.  I believe we were put here on this planet by God partly to do just that!  Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”  I truly believe God takes PLEASURE us when we explore His magnificent creation – because it can’t help but bring Him glory!

Just one more reason to “VOTE DONALD TRUMP, BABY” come November!





Source
Las Vegas News Magazine

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