the booster’s 33 engines will lob the craft skyward over the Gulf of Mexico. About three minutes later the 230-foot-tall booster will separate, return to Earth and land in the ocean 20 miles from shore. Meanwhile the spacecraft will continue onward, flying 72 miles above Earth on a 90-minute journey until a “powered, targeted landing” into the sea 62 miles off the coast of Kauai.of success. Starship might explode on the pad, perform as intended or malfunction somewhere in between.
Reusability makes space travel cheaper, faster and more efficient. SpaceX has proven this concept by routinely reflying its Falcon 9 boosters. The result is a company that launches more stuff to space more often than any country. Starships will exponentially expand this capacity, which will help build outposts on the moon and Mars.
Closer to home, Starship might someday help move up to 100 people and tons of equipment around the world in minutes. The military is already eyeing this concept to someday help respond to humanitarian and security crises.But before that can happen, Starship needs to make its first orbital flight. When it does, Earth will meet space in this southernmost part of Texas, where America and Mexico converge, the land meets the sea and history collides with the future.
Consider the kids in Brownsville, Matamoros, Port Isabel, Los Fresnos and elsewhere who will see the streak of fire and smoke arching toward the heavens. Consider, too, the millions worldwide who will see footage. For some, Starship will launch a lifelong passion for exploration, solving hard problems and pushing the limits of human existence.But this next step in discovery doesn’t come without costs.
It's not a movie, this isn't the metaverse.