Chapter 180

Chapter 95: The Starship Launch: SpaceX, April 2023

Overview

This chapter covers SpaceX's Starship launch attempt in Boca Chica in April 2023, with Musk, key engineers, and family members present at the facility. The narrative follows the launch preparations and the moment of liftoff from multiple vantage points around the launch site.

Summary

On launch day at SpaceX's Boca Chica facility, Musk is positioned atop a high bay with engineers Juncosa and McKenzie to observe the Starship. Simultaneously, other team members occupy the control room, including Griffin and X, while Grimes and Tau watch from outside the control room. The chapter documents the convergence of these groups as they witness the Starship's launch attempt, capturing the tension and coordination required across different stations at the launch site during this critical SpaceX moment.

Characters

  • Elon MuskSpaceX founder and leader observing the Starship launch from atop a high bay
  • JuncosaSpaceX engineer positioned with Musk during the launch
  • McKenzieSpaceX engineer positioned with Musk during the launch
  • GriffinSpaceX team member in the control room during launch
  • XPresent in the control room during the launch
  • GrimesObserver watching the launch from outside the control room
  • TauObserver watching the launch from outside the control room