SpaceX Launches Starship Rocket with Trump Present

SpaceX successfully launched its sixth Starship flight test on November 19 from Boca Chica, Texas, with President-elect Donald Trump in attendance, highlighting the growing partnership between him and CEO Elon Musk. Although the Super Heavy booster did not land as planned and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico due to unmet technical criteria, the upper stage achieved key objectives, including reigniting its engines and landing in the Indian Ocean. This mission marked the shortest turnaround between Starship tests and included the first payload, a stuffed banana, as well as new heat shield materials. Trump expressed his support for SpaceX's ambitions, aiming for Mars exploration by 2026, and his presence at the launch signals a potential influence in future space policy. The event attracted significant attention, with several U.S. senators also present, emphasizing the political implications of SpaceX's advancements.