Big Number
13. That’s how many times Starship has been launched, the most recent of which came in July.
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Key Background
SpaceX has launched its rockets for years from Cape Canaveral, Florida, a Space Force Base In California and Starbase, Texas, which has served as the firm’s site for Starship test-launch operations. Plans to expand the rocket’s launch capabilities comes as SpaceX has come under scrutiny for some test flights. In April 2023, Starship’s first test flight caused SpaceX’s concrete launchpad and its spacecraft to explode, causing some damage to endangered species nesting sites at the Boca Chica State Park Land near the Texas launch site. The firm was found to have violated the Clean Water Act at the facility in 2024, after state officials found SpaceX to have repeatedly flushed pollutants into or near bodies of water in Texas.
Forbes Valuation
Musk is the world’s richest person with a net worth estimated at $859.8 billion as of Tuesday, with a 2.4% boost to SpaceX shares adding nearly $20 billion to his fortune.
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Further Reading
Everything SpaceX And Tesla Say Elon Musk Must Do—Mars Colony, Robots, More—For More Billions (Forbes)
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