Musk announces Starship blowtorch
Following Musk’s tweet about a “Mini Starship with flame,” SpaceX announces the pre-sale of a collectable, Starship-themed blowtorch. The $175 burner has a safety lock as well as a windproof, adjustable flame and is being marketed for things like melting cheese and lighting candles. As one advert puts it:
It’s collectible. It’s functional. And it burns, burns, burns. The Starship Torch.
Mini Starship with flame!https://t.co/VGKHyaikTd
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 17, 2023
Dragon abort test successful
The company tests the Dragon abort system at Cape Canaveral. The abort system is designed to save the crew in the event of a launchpad emergency. The capsule is powered by Draco engines for five seconds. After reaching apogee at 90 seconds, falls by parachute into the Altantic ocean