Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy praised Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for his significant contributions to modern innovation, calling him the “Benjamin Franklin of our time.” What sparked this comparison, you wonder? Ramaswamy's comments came after SpaceX's Starship rocket returned to its launch pad and was captured by a giant pair of mechanical arms — a world first in space exploration.
In a post on X, Mr Ramaswamy wrote, “We live in a 1776-like moment in America & there's little doubt that @elonmusk is the Benjamin Franklin of our time.”
This wasn't the first time Mr Ramaswamy drew parallels between Elon Musk and Benjamin Franklin. Previously, he said Musk was a friend and that they shared a similar vision for the future, particularly concerning their children. He said that Musk had a clearer perspective on the upcoming election than many, highlighting this poll was fundamentally about the ideals upon which the country was founded, with free speech being paramount.
Ramaswamy said that in 1776, George Washington led the charge, but he was also supported by a group of influential founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, a renowned inventor. The former Presidential candidate firmly places Musk in the same category as Franklin, acknowledging his significant contributions to innovation and progress.
Earlier in June 2024, too, Mr Ramaswamy said, “Our founding fathers were the likes of Thomas Jefferson… Benjamin Franklin… I think of Elon Musk as a modern Benjamin Franklin type of figure.”
SpaceX's historic milestone
On October 13, 2024, SpaceX marked a significant achievement by successfully catching the massive booster stage of its Starship rocket using a pair of robotic arms when it descended back to the company's launchpad in Texas. The feat capped off a successful fifth test flight for the uncrewed Starship. The rocket's upper stage proceeded to rise to about 145 km as its 71-metre Super Heavy booster separated at a height of about 65 km above the Earth.
Three of its Raptor engines were reignited by the falling booster, which slowed its rapid descent and guided it towards the launch tower, where the mechanical arms caught it.
This marks the first time SpaceX has attempted such a bold manoeuvre, which it views as essential to its ambition of developing fully reusable rockets capable of transporting humans, scientific equipment, and supplies to the Moon and eventually Mars.
