T HE LAUNCH was remarkable: a booster rocket with twice the power of the Apollo programme’s Saturn V lancing into the early-morning sky on a tight, bright column of blue-tinged flame. But that wonder has been seen four times before. It was the landing of the booster stage of SpaceX ’s fifth Starship test flight which was truly extraordinary.

SpaceX has sued California regulators, accusing them of political bias against its CEO Elon Musk. The company claims that the regulators denied it permission to conduct more rocket launches because of Musk's controversial and conservative views.