Elon Musk wants his new rocket to revolutionise spaceflight. And that rocket, Starship, is now the largest and most powerful spacecraft ever built.

The historical background of energy crises is intertwined with the evolution of industrial societies and their burgeoning demand for energy resources. The first notable energy crisis dates back to the 1970s, but to fully appreciate its context, we must trace back to the earlier part of the 20th century. The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, marked the transition from agrarian economies to industrial powerhouses reliant on fossil fuels such as coal and later petroleum. By the early 20th century, oil had become the lifeblood of industrialized nations, fueling everything from domestic energy needs to transportation and military operations. The reliance on oil, however, left economies vulnerable to geopolitical dynamics and market fluctuations. The energy crisis of the 1970s was triggered primarily by geopolitical events, specifically the Yom Kippur War and the subsequent oil embargo imposed by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) against nations perceived as supporting Israel. This led to a quadrupling of oil prices, triggering inflation, economic stagnation, and widespread energy shortages in many Western nations. The crisis exposed the vulnerability associated with dependence on a finite resource controlled by a relatively small group of exporting countries. Subsequent energy crises, including the 1979 oil crisis following the Iranian Revolution, reinforced the need for diversified energy sources and more sustainable practices. These events catalyzed the exploration of alternative energy sources and led to various energy policies aimed at reducing dependence on nonrenewable resources.