Moon-bound?
A previous attempt at launch was abruptly scrubbed just as the booster began to ignite, in an automatic stoppage that occurred after some engines did not start.
The launch was then further delayed over weather and visibility concerns.
Friday’s flight was the first after Musk’s SpaceX went public on Wall Street in June, with a record initial public offering.
The rocket company has rapidly expanded its satellite internet service and voiced lofty ambitions for AI data centres in space.
There’s a lot riding on SpaceX’s progress: The company is under contract with NASA to produce a modified version of Starship to serve as a lunar landing system.
Sharing an image of the Starship rocket passing the Moon, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman commented that it was “pretty clear from this shot that SpaceX knows where we are going!”
“When Starship comes online, its capabilities will be game-changing, not least of which will be ensuring we never give up the Moon again!”
