A week before the election, Donald Trump captivated his audience at Madison Square Garden with an extended and somewhat whimsical discussion about Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its famous “chopstick” maneuver. Watching a Starship rocket’s first stage return to the launch tower is nothing short of jaw-dropping. For those of us who’ve seen it—whether in person or through the endless online videos—it never fails to amaze. The miracle isn’t just in the technology; it’s in the sheer joy and wonder it brings to all who witness it.
Recently, President-elect Trump paused in the whirlwind of assembling his new administration to join Musk in South Texas for another Starship test launch. Who could blame him? Rockets have long captivated the human imagination, and SpaceX injects a spirit of adventure into one of humanity’s most thrilling enterprises.
There’s nothing quite like witnessing a rocket launch. It’s a spectacle for the eyes and a symphony for the ears. Watching this slender structure burst aloft on a fiery plume after a controlled explosion is mesmerizing. Think back to the unforgettable launch of Apollo 11 in 1969: the sleek Saturn V rocket adorned with “United States” in bold red—a masterpiece of 20th-century technological prowess.
What makes these events even more gripping is the inherent risk involved. The countdown in mission control builds tension, and the announcement of “liftoff!” is always a moment of justified triumph.
SpaceX’s innovative “chopstick” feat embodies all these elements. Imagine a rocket stage returning from space like a Roman candle in reverse, creating visible and audible sonic booms. It’s pioneering work, a landmark moment as it hovers uncertainly until safely caught by the tower’s metal arms.
Technically, it’s akin to watching a skater flawlessly land a quadruple axle. It feels like we are glimpsing the future.
As Musk stood next to Trump in Texas, eagerly demonstrating the latest Starship test with a model clasped in his hands, he seemed the embodiment of boyish enthusiasm for rocketry. Yet, this passion doesn’t undermine the magnitude of his accomplishments. Space exploration faced decades of stagnant launch costs—until Musk stepped in with his innovative brilliance to dramatically lower prices. According to Ars Technica, he now manages ten times more satellites than any other nation or company.
The Starship trials, now the world’s largest and most potent rocket, mark the next phase of Musk’s ambitious quest to return humans to the moon and eventually Mars. It speaks to an innate human drive for discovery and adventure, with rockets standing as both a symbol and a tool for that journey.
Rich Lowry, Editor in Chief of National Review
