Elon Musk: Congrats to the SpaceX team on catching the giant rocket!
Elon: It’s mind-blowing that the SpaceX team has caught the largest flying object ever made multiple times using a novel method of catching it with giant chopsticks!
[SpaceX employees and Elon pause to watch a video showing the booster, with fiery engines, descending through space, adjusting, and being caught with chopsticks.]
Elon: Have you ever seen that before?
[The video is awe-inspiring. Elon congratulates his team, calling it quite an achievement. Everyone cheers; it’s an emotional moment.]
Elon: We catch it this way, which has never been done before, to make the rocket rapidly reusable. If the super heavy booster, 30 feet in diameter, landed with legs on a pad, we’d have to pick it up, stow the legs, and move it back to the launch pad, which is difficult.
But catching it with the same tower that places it in the launch mount is the best for rapid reuse. It’s caught by the arms that placed it, then set back in the launch ring immediately. In principle, the super heavy booster can be reflown within an hour of landing. It returns in five or six minutes, gets caught, placed back, refilled with propellant in 30 to 40 minutes, and a ship placed on top. It could refly every hour or two.
Image Courtesy SpaceX, Inc and source Elon Musk’s Mars 2026 company talk.
“Progress is measured by the timeline to establishing a self-sustaining civilization on Mars”
Elon: With each launch, especially early on, we learn more about what’s needed to make life multiplanetary and improve Starship to take hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to Mars.
Ideally, we can take anyone who wants to go and bring all equipment necessary to make Mars self-sustaining, so Mars can grow by itself.
Worst-case scenario, we reach the point where Mars can continue to grow even if supply ships from Earth stop for any reason.
At that point, we’ve achieved civilization resilience, where Mars could rescue Earth or vice versa.
Having two self-sustaining planets is incredibly important for long-term survival. A multi-planet civilization is likely to last ten times longer than a single-planet one because of risks like World War III, meteors, or supervolcanoes. With two planets, we keep going, then move beyond Mars to the asteroid belt, Jupiter’s moons, and other star systems, making science fiction reality. To achieve this, we need rapidly reusable rockets to keep the cost per ton to Mars as low as possible. That’s essential. We need rapidly reliable rockets—it’s like a pirate’s “Rrrr”: rapidly reusable, reliable rockets!
Image Courtesy SpaceX, Inc and source Elon Musk’s Mars 2026 company talk.
Elon Musk: When we look at our build comparison in vehicles per year, Boeing and Airbus make airplanes, but SpaceX will probably make as many Starships for Mars as Boeing and Airbus make commercial airplanes. This is an enormous scale, and each Starship is bigger than a 747 or an A380.
In terms of Starlink satellites, version three satellites, we’ll make on the order of 5,000 per year, and at some point, closer to 10,000 per year. Those Starlink V3 satellites are roughly the size of a 737 (unfurled). They compare to the B-24 bomber in World War II.
The scale of production is still small compared to Tesla.
Elon: Tesla will probably double or triple that volume in the future. It puts things into perspective that it’s possible to build a vast number of interplanetary Starships. Even when comparing tonnage, Tesla and other car companies produce far more complex manufactured tonnage than SpaceX, showing it’s achievable. These numbers, while insanely high by traditional space standards, are achievable because they’ve been achieved in other industries.
Elon: There’s a person next to it that looks like a tiny ant. That’s our Giga Bay!
[Elon points to a render of a massive building]
We’re expanding integration to produce 1,000 per year. The Giga Bay hasn’t been built yet, but we’re building it. It’s a truly enormous structure, one of the biggest in the world by some measures, designed for 1,000 Starships per year. We’re also building a Giga Bay in Florida, so we’ll have two facilities—one in Texas and one in Florida. It’s difficult to gauge the size of these buildings because you need a human for scale. When you see how tiny a human is next to it, you realize how enormous it is.
Elon Musk: “The gateway to Mars. Here we are at the newly incorporated Starbase, Texas. This is the first new city made in America in, I think, quite a few decades. At least that’s what I’m told. It’s a very cool name, named because it’s where we’re going to develop the technology necessary to take humanity, civilization, and life as we know it to another planet for the first time in the 4.5 billion-year history of Earth.”
INTERVIEW: 15 people at Starbase share their firsthand experience watching SpaceX’s 2nd booster catch – historical! Kids said they loved it!
Starship Launches are forever etched in people’s hearts when they have the delightful opportunity to attend them. In this podcast, we will meet and talk with people who share their first impressions of the launch. I got to talk to them right after the second booster catch at Rocket Ranch. I spoke to 15 people. Their reactions are historic. I am one of the few citizen journalists who has captured these firsthand reactions in a podcast.
One mom, wisely took her kids out of school for the day, and they were elated at the chance to see the launch so close up. For this mom’s young son, it was his birthday gift!
FOR MEDIA USE ONLY News media is welcome to use my material in connection with a story or article. By downloading any content I create, you understand and hereby agree and represent that: (1) you are a member of the news media; (2) use of the content is in connection with a story or an article appearing in newspapers, periodicals, digital publications or television; (3) all images and rights thereto remain the property Gail Alfar.; and (4) use of the image is not for publication covers, advertising, promotion or otherwise for commercial purposes. Furthermore, use of any and all images and content appearing on this page must each include the notice “Courtesy of Gail Alfar” Use of materials copied from this website is at your own risk. You must obtain prior written consent from Gail Alfar for uses that exceed the above parameters.
Sit back and relax with this podcast episode. It has four amazing interviews in it.
First we will talk with the man behind the giant Elon Musk mural which is a massive meme in tribute to Elon’s ability to make humble jokes even about himself. Known as ElonRWA on X, and hailing from France, we will talk with the creator and get the inside story.
Second, you will meet a rocket expert named Grandpa Joe from Baton Rogue. As we stand right at the base of Starship, we discuss Elon Musk and trust me, the vibe is OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Third, meet a really sincere young man who owns a Cybertruck (now for rent) and a property rental startup where every place you stay can give you a view of the rocket factory at Starbase, Texas. You’ll love Starbnb.
Jessica Tetreau talks about SpaceX in Texas
Saving the BEST for last, we will hear the amazing Jessica Tetreau talk about the early days of SpaceX. This is truly a great woman who cares deeply about the people of Brownsville.
This Podcast has four interviews and takes place at Starbase, Texas!
FOR MEDIA USE ONLY News media is welcome to use my material in connection with a story or article. By downloading any content I create, you understand and hereby agree and represent that: (1) you are a member of the news media; (2) use of the content is in connection with a story or an article appearing in newspapers, periodicals, digital publications or television; (3) all images and rights thereto remain the property Gail Alfar.; and (4) use of the image is not for publication covers, advertising, promotion or otherwise for commercial purposes. Furthermore, use of any and all images and content appearing on this page must each include the notice “Courtesy of Gail Alfar” Use of materials copied from this website is at your own risk. You must obtain prior written consent from Gail Alfar for uses that exceed the above parameters.
(S. Padre Island, Texas) Starship launched on 18 November out of Starbase and I joined thousands of people as the sun rose to reveal Starship across the bay. We all witnessed the fierce determination of an incredible launch test. I will share with you the inspiring thoughts of 4 people I met.
Visitors and residents of all ages, woke up before dawn to walk in the dark to the beach to better grasp the magnitude of Starship. Everyone I spoke with came away feeling more hopeful than before about a future where we will make it to Mars.
Moments before Starship Launch. Image by Gail Alfar.
A CHILD INSPIRED BY A GIFT FROM SPACEX
Six-year-old Grayson from Missouri was excited to show me a piece of tile from the heat shield of Starship. His Dad was in awe that SpaceX employees shared this with his family. The family let me open the plastic case up, take out the tile piece, and hold it. It was also emotional for me because I love those tiles so much. Grayson looked amazed too, then after a while, he said, “Can I give you one of my glow sticks?”
There is a certain love that comes from the heart of the mission of SpaceX that rubs off on people when they see a launch. Grayson had that. When I asked him what he thought about the launch, he said he “loved all of it!”
NASA EMPLOYEES AT THE LAUNCH
I met several NASA employees at Isla Blanca, from lead engineers to a man who works in the warehouse. I talked with many, or rather, I listened to them. I walked away with the knowledge that they admire the speed of which SpaceX operates.
Gynn Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX explains it this way,
“I do want to make something clear: SpaceX does have a lot of government business, but we execute in a commercial fashion.”
One NASA employee, Mike Pantaleo, brought his long lens camera, and told me, “I am capturing history.” Pantaleo admires the hard work of SpaceX employees, he explained to me that he deeply respects their valuable work.
A TOAST TO STARSHIP ON SOUTH PADRE
“Here, here, take a picture of this,” the bartender at Josephine’s on S. Padre was injecting liquid smoke into a cup of ice and mixing a drink, as he placed a rocket pop on top, he said, “I created this myself, I wanted it to look like Starship!” I loved the enthusiasm and laughter over breakfast on Saturday morning right after the launch. The restaurant was buzzing with excited people and the bartender added “Elon is cool!” I shared my just-taken video of the launch with a family from San Antonio who had arrived after the launch thinking it would happen later in the morning. Starship launched right on time, just moments after sunrise.
SHARING ENTHUSIASM IS PRICELESS
David, an engineer from Dallas, told me he was drawn to the people at the launch because of the shared enthusiasm for discussing details about Starship and genuine support for Elon Musk. He said, “when I’m at work, my colleagues are great people and they also do not share my level of excitement, it is so nice to be with others who do!“
David had the ability to paint a picture with his words, and when he talked about the day when Starships would launch at the rate of 2-3 per day, I could see that future. That’s the future we need.
“With Starship, actually, more profound than the size, is the fact that it is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. The reason for the absurd size is that we are trying to build something that is capable of creating a permanent base on the moon and a city on Mars. That’s why it’s so large. Otherwise, we could make it much smaller.” – Elon Musk, IAC Space Conference 2023
Image Starship Launch 2 Courtesy of Elon Musk.
GROK’S TAKE: IMPRESSIVE AMBITION, WOBBLY IN EXECUTION
Grok (the new AI from xAI) chimed in about the launch, humorously saying that the launch was, impressive in its ambition, but somewhat wobbly in execution. Grok added “The success of the launch brings us one step closer to the dream of making humanity a multi-planetary species. Just imagine, in a few centuries, we could have humans colonizing Mars, living in biodomes and eating space-grown potatoes. It’s enough to make one wonder if Elon Musk has a secret stash of Douglas Adams novels tucked away in his office.”
MY THOUGHTS
The images in my mind of the starry morning dawn giving way to a bright sunrise, the warm waters on the beach, and the T-30-second countdown are part of what gives people of all ages immense hope for the future. The very sight of Starship pushing up, with so much mass, is both beautiful and fearsome. Leaving Starbase, I met over 40 Tesla owners at Superchargers in Alice who had been to the launch. This was no ordinary day, and we all knew it. The joy that comes with sharing the excitement of watching Starship launch is unlike anything else. I hope that you felt that joy in the live streams and the people you know here on X. This is the next best thing to being physically present at a launch!
Crowds await Starship Launch 2. Image by Gail Alfar.
Space is big. Really big
“Space is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist, but that’s just peanuts to space.” – Hitchhiker’s Guide
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Article by Gail Alfar, please credit accordingly. Thanks to @SpaceX and @elonmusk
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
The inside of Starship’s cargo space is grandiose, like a futuristic cathedral. It’s science fiction becoming reality and it will get humanity to Mars!
While attending the first launch test of Starship out of Starbase, Texas last April, I realized how urgent the task of getting to orbit is for Elon Musk, the SpaceX team, and some former NASA employees I spoke to.
Elon talked at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) Space Conference 2023 and shared insights about Starship. Here are the noteworthy highlights:
Rapid Refueling and Reusability: The Cornerstone of Starship
Elon emphasized that the grandiosity of Starship’s cargo area is not just for show. Rather, it’s a testament to the spacecraft’s revolutionary design focused on full and rapid reusability. Musk explained that Starship’s enormous size is driven by its ambitious goal: to establish a permanent base on the Moon and even create a city on Mars. This commitment to reusability sets a new standard for space exploration.
When Elon was asked to give the audience a sense of the size of the cargo-carrying portion of Starship, he said “When you step into the Starship fairing or payload volume, it looks like a cathedral! It looks absurd, frankly. It’s like – this is ridiculously gigantic! That was my first impression when I first went up there in a man lift and climbed through the little hole for the Starship initial rough prototype, I was like… What have we done?? This thing is ridiculously big! -laughter- this actually can be great for Science, though.”
A Revolutionary Approach to Booster Recovery
Elon explains the importance of what many have come to call, mechazilla, “We have a giant custom-designed tower with massive mechanical arms, that will literally try to catch the booster and catch the ship, which, sounds insane, I mean I have not seen a science fiction movie that has done this. But, in theory, it should work.”
One of the most unconventional aspects of SpaceX’s plan for Starship is the use of mechazilla to catch both the booster and the ship after launch. Musk admitted that this approach might sound like something out of science fiction, but it holds the promise of revolutionizing rocket recovery and reuse. With the right licenses and permissions from the FAA, SpaceX aims to achieve the milestone of recovering the booster using the tower’s arms within a year, potentially before 2025.
Elon explained to the audience at the IAC Space Conference, “With Starship, actually, more profound than the size, is the fact that it is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. The reason for the absurd size is that we are trying to build something that is capable of creating a permanent base on the moon and a city on Mars. That’s why it’s so large. Otherwise, we could make it much smaller.”
Revealing more details, Elon explained, “In terms of catching it, for the ship‘s side, we actually want to make sure that it comes in fully intact, and lands at a precise location. before we try to catch it at the launch site because we. are taking every precaution we can so that we do not risk any human lives. or have destruction of property. So, when you see the ship able to have a precise-looking landing on the water, that’s when we will try to catch the ship with the tower.”
Starbase, Texas: The Epicenter of Launch Operations
Elon Musk reinforced the significance of Starbase, Texas, as the primary launch and booster return location. It’s here where the first launches and booster recoveries will occur, solidifying Starbase’s role in SpaceX’s ambitious plans for space exploration.
Regarding the upcoming second launch test, Elon explained “There’s a ton of new technology in this rocket,” he also elaborated on the biggest risk, “The ship is designed to re-enter and has a heat shield. We think it’ll work, but we aren’t sure it’ll work. So if it doesn’t work, we want it to not work over the Pacific, which is quite a large body of water with almost no people on it.” The plan is to have Starship splash down somewhere near to Hawaii.
Unprecedented Efficiency in Propellant Usage
SpaceX’s commitment to efficiency was highlighted by Musk when he stated that the Starship booster would return to the launch site in an astounding 4 to 5 minutes. This represents a major leap forward in propellant usage and marks a substantial step toward sustainable space travel.
Starlink Satellite Deployment: Revolutionizing Internet Connectivity
SpaceX’s Starlink project, aimed at global internet connectivity, could see the deployment of Starlink version three satellites as early as 2024. Satellite deployment could happen before SpaceX solves reentry and landing challenges. Satellites can be deployed without directly addressing those challenges, as they don’t reenter Earth’s atmosphere after being placed in orbit.
Collaboration for Space Science
Musk unveiled a collaboration with UC Berkeley on a Space Telescope boasting an enormous lens, which could significantly enhance space science capabilities. This venture promises to unlock new discoveries and insights about our galaxy. Elon said,“So, one of the exciting projects that we are working with is with Berkeley on a Space Telescope that has an enormous lens, past 7 or 8 meters in diameter. The lens was meant for a ground-based satellite but you can then take that same satellite and put it in orbit, its capabilities are greatly enhanced because you don’t have the obfuscation of the atmosphere. So that’s why the Hubble, which is actually a fairly small telescope, can do better than any historical ground satellite, especially individual spectrum, so we’re very excited about what we can do for Space Science.”
Starship: A Versatile Transport System
Elon Musk described Starship as a generalized transport system capable of taking humanity anywhere within the solar system. It’s not limited to just lunar or Martian missions; instead, it’s a gateway to exploring the entire cosmos.
Elon Musk’s talk at the IAC Space Conference was interesting and I will link to it below this article so you may listen to it in it’s entirety. SpaceX, an American company, is at the forefront of space exploration, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable and setting the stage for an exciting future where humans will become multiplantary!
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