President-elect Donald Trump will watch the sixth SpaceX Starship launch in particular person immediately (Nov. 19).
Trump confirmed his attendance on the Starship launch on X, previously Twitter. “Good luck to Elon Musk and the Nice Patriots concerned on this unbelievable venture,” Trump added within the submit (capitalization his) referring to the SpaceX founder and CEO.
Trump’s presence on the launch is one other sign of the rising function that Musk will play within the subsequent presidential administration. At this time’s SpaceX launch, referred to as Built-in Flight Take a look at-6 (IFT-6), is scheduled to carry off throughout a 30-minute window that opens at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT; 4 p.m. native Texas time). You’ll be able to watch reside at House.com.
Associated: What to anticipate throughout SpaceX’s sixth Starship take a look at flight on Nov. 19
Final week, Trump co-appointed Musk to a brand new “Division of Authorities Effectivity” together with entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy. (The Washington Put up notes this “division” is extra of an advisory council, given departments should be created by congressional authorization.)
“Collectively, these two great Individuals will pave the way in which for my Administration to dismantle Authorities Paperwork, slash extra laws, reduce wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Businesses — Important to the Save America Motion,” Trump wrote in a assertion (capitalization his).
Musk has a number of companies that might profit from his involvement within the Trump administration, in keeping with NPR.
“His electrical automobile firm Tesla will get authorities funding and has obtained thousands and thousands to put in EV charging stations. His rocket firm SpaceX has gained billion-dollar authorities contracts for moon missions. And his satellite tv for pc web firm, Starlink, has additionally gotten thousands and thousands in subsidies from the federal authorities,” NPR wrote earlier this month.
Earlier to Trump’s affirmation that he would go to Texas in particular person, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued “non permanent flight restrictions for VIP [very important person] motion” close to Starship’s launch website in Brownsville, Texas on Monday (Nov. 18), in keeping with Reuters. Concurrently, a flight restriction at Trump’s Palm Seashore, Florida property is being quickly eliminated.
Musk has been vocal in regards to the FAA’s function in regulating previous Starship launches. Tagging a submit on X about Starship regulation in September, for instance, Musk mentioned present FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker “must resign.” Musk can be the proprietor of X.
The Starship megarocket contains two absolutely reusable parts — an enormous first stage referred to as Tremendous Heavy and an upper-stage spacecraft named Starship, or just “Ship.” Musk plan to make use of Starship for heavy-launch missions to the moon and Mars; the spacecraft has efficiently accomplished a number of house flight checks since 2022 however has but to realize Earth-orbiting velocity.
This story was up to date at 3 p.m. EST with affirmation of Trump’s attendance.
