Elon Musk

President-elect Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk observed the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024, marking significant progress and setbacks. Despite the inability to recover the Super Heavy booster with the 'Mechazilla' system, the successful reignition of a Raptor engine in space and a safe splashdown highlight advancements in rapid spacecraft reuse. This event underscored Trump's and Musk's partnership and raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to SpaceX's government contracts.

Elon Musk takes on a pivotal role in the incoming Trump administration by co-leading the new Department of Government Efficiency. Tasked alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, the department aims to reduce government bureaucracy and spending. This move follows Musk's substantial support for Trump's campaign. The unconventional department has drawn both optimism and criticism regarding potential benefits to Musk's business ventures and concerns over conflicts of interest.