The Science Near Me blog is a partnership between Discover magazine and ScienceNearMe.org.
On April 20, 2023, SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful spaceship ever built, lifted off from the company’s Starbase launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas. It was a thrilling demonstration of engineering prowess, and a preview of future missions that could loft humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
The feat was dimmed by the rocket’s “rapid, unscheduled disassembly” (AKA explosion) shortly after liftoff. But, said SpaceX founder Elon Musk, it was an important step in designing and testing this new class of powerful rocket. Now, the company’s engineers have more information about what to do to make their rocket better.Space launches may be the most exciting application of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) know-how in Texas, but they’re far from the only one. Companies designing and manufacturing semiconductors, wind turbines and more in the state rely ...
