Key Takeaways
SpaceX’s sixth Starship test flight failed to repeat the launch tower “chopstick” booster catch first displayed during the previous test flight.
But as he watched on, CEO Elon Musk could take solace from the guest of honor at the launch viewing: President-Elect Donald Trump.
With the two men in a close alliance ever since Trump’s election, SpaceX now has a crucial backer in its efforts to land humans on the moon in 2026.
The latest Starship test flight was part of SpaceX’s preparations for Artemis III, which is expected to land humans on the moon for the first time in over fifty years.
With the mission currently scheduled to launch in September 2026, SpaceX has ramped up its preparations with monthly test flights.
During the latest flight, however, SpaceX controllers announced at the last minute that they wouldn’t catch the booster rocket as previously planned and would instead divert it to land in the sea. SpaceX didn’t provide a reason for the decision.
Experiments with catching different components of Starship’s booster rockets are part of SpaceX’s ongoing work to enhance the craft’s reusability, helping to advance a less wasteful, more cost-efficient mode of propulsion.
With Starship set to play a critical role in Artemis III and other planned lunar missions, reusable rockets have become a key focus for the company.
While NASA has occasionally wavered on Artemis III’s scope and timeline, with Trump due to take office in January, the mission will almost certainly fall under his watch.
For the incoming Trump Administration, Artemis III will mark the completion of a goal the then-president initially set during his previous term.
In 2017, Trump issued Space Policy Directive-1, amending an Obama-era memorandum with more ambitious and specific targets for American space exploration.
“Beginning with missions beyond low-Earth orbit, the United States will lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization,” the directive states.
After this has been achieved, it calls for human missions to Mars and other destinations.
In the near term, SpaceX is focused on landing humans on the moon, but ultimately, that is just one step on the way to Mars.
Before the U.S. presidential election, Musk warned that “we will never reach Mars if Kamala wins.”
He has often blamed Democrats for government red tape, which he claims has held SpaceX back.
With Trump currently selecting his appointments for key government agencies that regulate SpaceX and are also among its biggest clients, Musk could use his influence to place allies in government.
The most obvious way the Trump administration could favor SpaceX would be to pursue a deregulatory agenda at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Musk has been severely critical of FAA Chief Mike Whitaker for saying that SpaceX must operate at the “highest level of safety.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could reinstate an $885 million Starlink contract that was struck down in 2022.
Following Trump’s appointment of Brendan Carr as FCC Chair, that prospect looks more likely. Carr was among two Commissioners who opposed revoking the funding, and he accused the government of unfairly targeting Musk’s businesses.